British Cycling has today announced the dates for the country’s two leading road race series’ for 2009 - the Premier Calendar Road Race Series and the Elite Men’s Circuit Race Series.
The events will test some of the UK’s best male cyclists to the limits and give some great racing for fans to watch across the country.
The Premier Calendar Road Race Series comprises 13 events, beginning with the Bikeline 2 Day race in Wales on 14 and 15 March.
The long, punishing courses of the Premier Calendar Road Race Series test the fitness, endurance and tactical ability of Great Britain’s top riders, including Russ and Dean Downing – the brothers who topped the 2008 standings – along with the likes of Olympians Chris Newton and Rob Hayles.
By contrast, the 11 races in the Elite Men’s Circuit Race Series brings out the bike handling skills, quick wits and agility of the best criterium riders. The dramatic, high-speed action of the city- and town-centre circuits draws out great crowds for events which contested some of the UK’s biggest teams and top names. Team Rapha Condor took the top three placings in 2008 in a series which saw Olympic gold medallist and Tour de France finisher Geraint Thomas compete. The series begins at the purpose built Hillingdon Cycle Circuit in West London in May.
British Cycling’s cycle sport and membership director Jonny Clay said: “The 2009 Premier Calendar and Elite Circuit Race series’ will provide us with a fantastic year’s road racing. There are some great courses and venues on both calendars and with the hard-work and commitment of our organisers, both the 2009 Premier Calendar and Elite Circuit Race series’ look set to be fantastic events.”
The full racing calendar for both series’ is as follows:
Premier Calendar Road Race series
14/15 March Bikeline 2 Day Hope, Flintshire
29 March Tour Of The Reservoir Co. Durham
11/13 April Girvan Stage Race Girvan, Scotland
19 April Archer Grand Prix Hazlemere, Bucks
2/3 May Chas Messenger 2 Day Long Crendon, Bucks
10 May Lincoln Grand Prix Lincoln
23/24 May Tour of Wessex Somerset
7 June Ryedale Grand Prix Helmsley, North Yorkshire
14 June Beaumont Trophy Ponteland, Northumberland
5 July Tour of Blackpool Grand Prix Road Race Blackpool
26 July East Yorkshire Classic Beverley, E.Yorks
9 August Tour of Pendle Barnoldswick, Lancs
23 August Richmond Grand Prix Richmond, North Yorkshire
National Elite Circuit Race Series
17 May Hillingdon Grand Prix Hillingdon, W. London
17 June Stone Criteriums Stone, Staffs
24 June Otley Criteriums Otley, W. Yorks
1 July Rochdale Grand Prix Rochdale, Lancs
3 July Tour of Blackpool Grand Prix Circuit Race Blackpool
7 July Brighouse Criteriums Brighouse, Yorks
14 July Colne Grand Prix Colne, Lancs
22 July Blackburn Grand Prix Blackburn, Lancs
5 September Newport Nocturne Newport, Shropshire
6 September Travelwise Warwick Town Centre Circuit Races Warwick
20 September Preston City Centre Grand Prix Preston, Lancs.
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