Winchester CycleFest 2013
Following a series of successful sporting events held in Winchester last year to celebrate the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the city will be going cycling mad this summer.
The cycling events planned offer opportunities for participants and spectators alike. The Winchester Cycle Fair on Sunday 23 June will celebrate the end of National Cycle Week and the fast and furious Winchester Criterium race will follow an action-packed Family Cycle Day on Sunday 11 August. There is also a Family Friendly Sportive on Saturday 10 August which is all about getting the family out cycling in Winchester.
Winchester Cycle Fair
To celebrate the end of British Cycling Week, families can bring their bikes along to the Broadway which will be transformed into a hive of cycling activity. This free event will encourage people of all ages to try out a wide range of cycling activities in the city including roller-racing, mountain bike display, BMX biking skills, a cycle treasure hunt, bike-decorating, smoothie bike and toddler trikes throughout the afternoon of Sunday 23 June from 12 noon to 4pm. There will also be a comedy unicycling policeman.
There will be a ‘Bike Bus’ leading cyclists along the national cycling route, across the beautiful Hockley Viaduct to a new cycle track at the South Winchester Park and Ride. As well as some light refreshments at this site, fun cycle skills provided by British Cycling will also be on offer.
There will be a wide variety of cycle themed stands including Dr Bike who can service or repair your bike and free security bike-marking. City centre shops and cafes will provide food and drink throughout the afternoon.
Winchester Criterium and Family Cycle Day
A Family Cycle Day on Sunday 11 August from 12 noon to 4pm will repeat the activities offered at the June event as part of the build up to the exciting Winchester Criterium cycle race later that day.
A Criterium is a closed circuit race through the streets of the city centre where competitors repeat the same course as many times as they can within a defined time limit. They race at about 50km/hr (30mph) which makes for a great sporting spectacle. The start and finish of the Winchester Criterium will be at the Butter Cross in the High Street. There will be races for men, women and juniors and each race will be capped between 30 and 40 riders.
This event will be the largest city centre Criterium cycle race in the region this year and will be staged in the city centre on Sunday 11 August from 4pm to 9pm. Classed as the cycling equivalent to Formula One, it is fast and furious with lots of thrills and spills. There will be six races throughout the evening and many thousands of spectators are expected to line the route.
Winchester City Council is co-ordinating the Winchester CycleFest package in partnership with British Cycling, Cycle Tours UK, Hampshire County Council and Winchester BID.
Cllr Vicki Weston, Portfolio Holder for Planning and Transport at Winchester City Council, commented
These two days of epic cycling action are for the 80,000 people who marked the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games across the district last year. We look forward to the people of Winchester turning out in their thousands to enjoy sport in the city once again.
These events were formally launched at the Holiday Inn Winchester at 10am on Wednesday 10 April.
Anthony McCrossan, the British Cycling commentator and former commentator of Winchester Criteriums will be at the launch to introduce cyclists from top UK teams including Felt Colbornes, Ride 24/7 and VC St Raphael.
For more information contact Amanda Ford, Head of Sport and Physical Activity, on 01962 848274 or e-mail aford@winchester.gov.uk. For more information on the Criterium and Sportive please head to www.cycletoursuk.com/events.