Entries open for 2016 Bristol Grand Prix

The Bristol Grand Prix is to return to the streets of the city centre for a second year on Saturday June 18 and entries are now open. The all-day event will feature races for veterans, youth riders and racers of all categories – including professionals.

The inaugural Bristol Grand Prix took place last year after an £8,000 funding target was hit on Crowdfunder. It proved a popular event with over 6,000 people turning out to cheer on the riders and organisers say places for this year’s edition are filling up fast.

Entries close on May 29. If you’re interested, entry is via the British Cycling website.

The current schedule is as follows:

• 11.00am - Love My Bike
• 12.00pm - Veterans Race
• 1.00pm - Youth A, B
• 1.45pm – Juniors
• 2.45pm - Women’s Cat 4
• 2.45pm - Women’s Cat 2&3
• 3.30pm - Mens 3,4
• 4.15pm – Podium
• 5.30pm - Sponsor relay
• 6.15pm - Men’s E,1,2
• 7.15pm - Finish

The ‘Love My Bike’ ride offers everyone the chance to ride the circuit at a leisurely pace. Due to the Aviva Women’s Tour of Britain taking place at the same time, there is no elite women’s race this year.

Races take place over an undulating figure-of-eight course which starts and finishes on Park Street. It has been organised by Bristol cycle collective Le Sportif and will form part of Bristol’s Green Week celebrations.

Race organiser Philip Adkins said: “City centre racing is fast, exciting and simple – whoever is in the front at the end wins. We want to help put Bristol on the cycling map, and establish the race on the national calendar. We want to grow the event, and bring competitive cycling to Bristol every year.”

Grant Bayton, Regional Events Officer at British Cycling added: "This event is a real highlight to the racing calendar in the South of England and we look forward to working with organisers in making it a sustainable event.”

The event is free to watch and the course design gives spectators the chance to see riders twice per lap. Former BBC broadcasters Keith Warmington and Richard Drew will be doing commentary and interviews.

Oganisers are hopeful that even more people will turn out to watch than last year.