Rutland – Melton International CiCLE Classic

by Simon Whiten · April 24, 2015

Starting at 11:00 from the High Street in Oakham Town centre, the international race is expected to reach the Melton, Sherrard Street finish line for the first time around 15.00 before commencing a final 15 kms circuit and returning to Sherrard Street for the finish proper around 15.25.

Earlier in the day starting at 9.00 the Junior CiCLE Classic involving the best 17/18 years old cyclists in Britain will start and finish in Oakham High Street covering five laps of a circuit around Teigh, Market Overton, Thistleton, and Edmondthorpe. Finishing around 11.25.

Race Director Colin Clews, said, “Each year we say that the event is going to be bigger and better than ever before, and the actuality of this never disappoints. This year the interest in the race from sponsors, riders, associated companies, spectators and cycling fans has been greater than ever and the prospects for the races on Sunday are breathtaking.”

34 of the teams currently registered for the race have confirmed that they will take part, with a late witdrawal by Team Tor reducing from the 35 originally accepted for this year’s CiCLE Classic. After late discussions by the organisation with representatives of Irish Cycling last week, there remains a small possibility that the four places vacated by Team Tor may be filled by a four man Irish National Under 23 team.

Britain is represented by all of its current eligible professional squads, with JLT-Condor heading the race with last year’s youngest winner Tom Moses who seeks to repeat his success of 2014 supported by a strong team which includes 2009 British Road Race Champion and former Tour of South Africa winner Kristian House.

Britain’s newest professional team One Pro Cycling created by cricketer Matt Prior includes consistently top performing Yanto Barker, together with Marcin Bialoblocki and local boy George Atkins from Market Harborough. Alongside them are Madison-Genesis who supplied last year’s runner up and subsequent Commonwealth Games track Gold Medallist,Tom Scully from New Zealand. Over the winter the team has also gained Mark McNally who was third in last year’s race and subsequently King of the Mountains in the Tour of Britain, which could make them a force to be reckoned with.

Nottingham based Team Raleigh-GAC return once again and bring to the race the only double winner of the CiCLE Classic to date, Ian (superman) Wilkinson as well as regular top ten finisher Steve Lampier and recent team addition Karol Domagalski of Poland who produced his first win for the team only last Sunday.

The British teams are then rounded out by last year’s Melton Building Society sponsored Team competition winners NFTO and another new squad to the domestic scene, Team Wiggins. With the loss of their top 2014 CiCLE Classic performers Adam Blythe and Russell Downing to the Danish Pro Continental team Cult Energy over the Winter, NFTO have taken their time to regroup but a win in recent weeks by 2013 CiCLE Classic runnner up Ian Bibby, their fortunes appear to be on the rise.