A packed day of cycling fun for the whole family in Newcastle town centre this August will be headlined by some of the UK’s top professional cyclists.
Newcastle Business Improvement District (BID) has teamed up with RideStaffs to bring the Staffordshire Cycling Festival to Newcastle on Sunday 11 August.
Top of the bill is the first ever professional cycle race in the town – and some of the UK’s best teams have signed up to be on the starting line for the Newcastle Grand Prix. Team Vitus, home to Ed Clancy and Graham Briggs – both previous winners of the Stafford Grand Prix – will be there, as will riders from Team Canyon Bloor Homes who grabbed all three podium places at last year’s Stafford Grand Prix. They will be joined by many more pro riders in a fast-and-furious, high-adrenaline circuit around the town centre. And there will also be youth races to give the stars of the future the opportunity to ride an exciting town-centre course.
Lots going on for the whole family
The early-evening pro race is the headline event, but there will be lots going on throughout the day for the whole family.
Highlights include some two-wheeled action with a difference from Granny Turismo – the world’s first and only shopping trolley dance and display team. There will be some of the finest street food and drink around for visitors to enjoy while they’re soaking up the action. Keen young cyclists can take advantage of drop-in sessions with British Cycling coaches. And the day gets under way with the Staffordshire Cycling Festival Sportive, a mass-participation cycle ride with hundreds of riders from across the county and beyond taking part.
Staffordshire Cycling Festival has been staged in Stafford for the last few years, with thousands of people packing into the town centre to cheer on the riders.
Eddie Leligdowicz, chairman of Newcastle BID, is delighted to now see the event heading to Newcastle-under-Lyme. He said: “Having an event like the Staffordshire Cycling Festival in Newcastle town centre is fantastic – it not only brings the excitement of a big pro cycle race to the town but actively encourages the community to get on their bikes and get involved. This is a brand new event for the town, fully funded through the BID levy, and one we are very proud to deliver.”
RideStaffs director Paul Rowlands added: “Staffordshire Cycling Festival is a celebration of cycling for the whole family. We’ll be putting on a great show in Newcastle over the day and are looking forward to seeing a strong turnout from people wanting to see the pro riders and enjoy the full line-up of festival events.”
Register to ride the Staffordshire Cycling Festival Sportive at www.ridestaffs.co.uk
