The Velo29 Croft Spring Races are a new independent racing series where riders didn’t need a licence to race them!
Velo29 Croft Spring RacesÂ
Velo29 bring us a stack of events across the year, from the Elite Crit and Grand Prix Series events at Stockton to a series of Sportives in the North East. They have this year added a new format of racing to the calendar, the Independent Croft Spring Series.
It’s independent because it’s not part of a governing body such as British Cycling or the TLi. Velo29 have sourced their own event insurance which means they can provide the same level as care that the BC policy gives but with reduced cost and increased flexibility.
Event Director, Richard Williamson explained “We run a lot of events in the year which have previously all been with British Cycling. Whilst this is a strong relationship, we’ve felt recently that placing all our eggs in the BC basket is a risk and at times frustrating experience. We are ambitious event promoters and we aim to be innovative.
We fully understand the rigid structure a governing body needs in place, especially around rules and regulations but we believe there is scope, and a market to operate outside of this.
We needed to source insurance for our Sportives as the BC cover is no longer suitable and we got a great level of cover for the year at a good price and the insurer was able to cover racing as well. A door had opened and we jumped through it, the Croft Spring Series was born!
There have been two events in the series, this year was largely a trial but there is scope to do more in the future. Both events were well attended, especially round two, and we felt the format would gain momentum and become a very popular, value for money way to race.
Feedback was good, we kept the format simple, handicapped with 3 groups. We had a stack of people who have never raced before. When we spoke to them they explained that they didn’t feel they’d been ready to enter a BC event but they had ridden our Sportives, trusted our brand and wanted to try something new. They all said they had a great time and would race again, also they had gained confidence to enter a BC race, which we felt was great and pointed them on how to do so.
It’s a format other organisers cold easily adopt, it’s great to have carte blanche on your own event. We made it super relaxed and friendly which the riders, old and new really enjoyed. We absolutely plan to continue our BC events, in the Winter Series, Stockton Elite and support events and the exciting new Bishop Auckland Cycle Races.
Velo29 have lots in the pipeline, the Sportive App is soon to be released which will include some great features such as entry/ registration, real time updates for KOM and GC and push notifications about any dangers on the route. The guys are also working on Velo29/ Live, a new text service ran on their website bringing you on the button updates of their events. Check www.velo29events.com for all the details.
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Sponsor Feature: Food at CHS Ciclismo (Spain)
- NEWS! Max Walker joins EF Education-EasyPost
- World Tour win for Ethan Vernon
- CX Result: Scottish Cyclocross Series 2
- Louise Sutton signs for Euskaltel Euskadi Team
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series #3
- HC Result: Sid Valley CC Hill Climb
- TT Result: Chelmer CC GP Des Gentlemen
- HC Result: BEC CC Hill Climb
- CX Result: Welsh Cyclo-Cross League Rd 3
- CX Result: North West Cyclocross League 4
- HC Result: Scottish Hill Climb Championships 2024
- CX Result: SWCX 3 (Devon)
- HC Result: Lancashire Road Club Hill Climb
- CX Result: Lincolnshire Cyclo Cross League 3
- CX Result: Central CycloCross League 5
- CX Result: Houghton Cycling Club Hill Climb
- HC Result: Bolsover And District CC Hill Climb
- HC Result: Catford CC Hill Climb
- CX Result: Western CX Round 4 (Upton Cheyney)
- CX Result: CXNE League 2024 Rd 4
- CX Result: Leicestershire Cyclo Cross League Rd 2
- HC Result: Severn RC Hill Climb
- CX Result: Shimano Lazer West Midlands Cyclocross League Round 5
- CX Result: Wessex Cyclocross League Round 5 (Southampton)
- HC Result: Tickhill Velo Club Hill Climb
- CX Result: Yorkshire Points CX League 2
- HC Result: East Sussex CA Hill Climb
- HC Result: Huddersfield Star Whs Hill Climb
- HC Result: Beachy Head Cycling Club Hill Climb
- HC Result: Rutland CC Hill Climb (Mam Nick)
- CX Result: Central CX League 4
- CX Result: South West CX League 2
- HC Result: Drighlington Bicycle Club Hill Climb
- Sponsored Feature: Renting your own private retreat in Spain
- HC Result: Welsh CA Hill Climb Champs
- STARTLIST: Scottish National Hill Climb Championships 2024
- BMCR Result: Chairman’s Race (Oct 6)
- HC Result: Fibrax Wrexham RC Hill Climb
- CX Result: Lincolnshire Cyclo-cross League 2
Other News on VeloUK
- NEWS! Max Walker joins EF Education-EasyPost
- World Tour win for Ethan Vernon
- Louise Sutton signs for Euskaltel Euskadi Team
- STARTLIST: Scottish National Hill Climb Championships 2024
- Rider News: Ben Marsh off to France to race
- Report/Result: World Gravel Championships
- This Weekend (Oct 5/6): National Trophy Cyclocross Round 1
- IOM 2024 YOUTH LEAGUE FINAL OVERALL
- Holiday Rentals: Escape to Casa Guadalest (Spain)
- Sponsor News: Custom Clothing from Santini
- News: Ribble launches the Allroad Ti – Crafted for More
- NEWS: The Pedal Club Lunch — September with Jez Cox
- Ultimate Cycling Experience at CHS Ciclismo
- Worlds: Great Britain Riders for 2024 Road Worlds
- Rider Report: Alistair Gardner wins two Kermesses
- EVENTS: Portmore Classic (29th of September, Dorset)
- STARTLIST: National Youth (GHS) Championship Final
- Tour of Britain: Provisional Startlist
- Sunday: Jef Schils Memorial (National B)
- This Weekend: RTTC National 10 mile Championship
- Q&A: Killian O’Brien – third in the Junior Tour of Wales
- TOM PIDCOCK CONFIRMED FOR LLOYDS BANK TOUR OF BRITAIN MEN
- Startlist: 42nd Junior Tour of Wales
- Startlist: 360 North West Youth Tour
- Tour of Britain: Evenepoel/Alaphilippe To Race National Tour
- GB Juniors for Track Worlds in China
- THIS WEEKEND: CYCLOCROSS (Leicestershire)
- Startlist: Men’s National B (Worcestershire)
- Startlists: Fenwicks Tour of Mendip 2024
- Startlists: 19th Ryedale Grasscrete Grand Prix Road Races
- Men’s Tour of Britain News: Teams for 2024 Race
- Men’s Tour of Britain Route Revealed (Stages 5 & 6)
- NEWS: Women’s UCI Drops Team to Close
- Startlist: Youth and Junior Track Championships 2024
- Startlist: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship (Women/JuniorsYouth)
- Startlists: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship (Men)
- Hill Climb Championships: Change of Course
- TT Result: Ross-On-Wye & Dist CC 25m TT
- News: Men’s Tour of Britain Route (Stage 1 & 2)
- GB News: Paracycling Squad for Paris 2024