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If entries continue for the Northern Rock Cyclone event at their present rate the event will be the UK’s biggest sportive, according to the event organiser.
The Cyclone Challenge takes place Saturday June 12th.
Organiser Peter Harrison said: “This year’s Northern Rock Cyclone is more exciting than ever. It seems to have become the must-do ride in many cyclists’ calendars. Every year the Northern Rock Cyclone weekend has been bigger and better than before – and 2010 is no exception.”
Entry statistics have raised an impressive 94 per cent from last year when almost 2,500 riders took the roads around Newcastle and Northumberland.
Three different routes are available for the riders; Ride A is 33 miles with more than 400 entries already and has proven to be extremely popular with families. More than 2,500 riders have also signed up for Ride B (63 miles) and Ride C (104 miles).
The Northern Rock Cyclone Challenge is a tremendously supported sportive with sponsors such as Traidcraft, Delmonte and Powerade supplying feed stations all along the routes to stimulate riders. To ensure everyone taking part completes the challenge, this year’s event will include four support vehicles and twelve National Escort Group motorcycle outriders will warn traffic of riders to maximise safety. Once the event is finished, riders can check their times on a Professional Sport I dent timing system.
Many riders raise money for charity as well as having fun and last year riders raised £150,000 for charities. Ideas of who you can raise money for can be found at www.northernrockcyclone.co.uk.
The Northern Rock Cyclone weekend is a popular weekend of cycling in Newcastle. The challenge starts on Friday June 11 with the Leazes Park Criterium races. The challenge sportive then takes place on Sunday June 13 with the Beaumont Trophy Premier calendar race where it is held in the beautiful yet challenging riding of the Northumberland countryside. In 2009 Tour de France and Olympic star Bradley Wiggins won the race.
More details of the weekend are available at www.northernrockcyclone.co.uk and you can also follow the event on Twitter at www.twitter.com/nrcyclone and by joining the ‘Northern Rock Cyclone’ group on Facebook.
