58th annual Archer Spring Criterium
58th annual Archer Spring Criterium
Stuart Benstead
58th annual Archer Spring Criterium
With a prize fund of £1000+, the Archer Spring Criterium on 25 April at Hillingdon circuit is unusual being for 1/2/3 categories without the presence of elites…
This reflects its origins as the main support race for the classic Archer GP when it was seen as a stepping stone for up and coming riders. It merited this status since it started in 1957 with such winners as Graham Webb (subsequent world champion), Bradley Wiggins, David Millar, Roger Hammond, Steve Heffernan and Matt Stephens among other notables.
The race has kept going despite the demise of the GP and its transfer to Hillingdon circuit in recent years has allowed the maintenance of a top class prize list without the crippling costs of an open road race and the benefit of being traffic free. Last year the race attracted possibly the biggest number of entries of the year at one meeting and advance entries look as though this will be surpassed this time.
Organiser for all 58 years, Stuart Benstead says: “We have always guaranteed a first class prize list beforehand and our pre-race confidence has been proven by ever increasing fields and ever increasing prize funds. In fact it is up 25% over last year.”
Entries are via the BC on-line system or will be accepted on the day at a slightly premium level.
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