Olympic cyclists set for Newbury
British Cycling is lining up Newbury to host one of its one day professional races next year
OLYMPIC cyclists could be racing through the streets of Newbury just weeks after the London 2012 games.
British Cycling, the governing body of cycle sport in the UK, could bring one of its one day races, which forms part of the premier calendar running from March to September, to Newbury next year.
Paul Rowlands of the major events team at British Cycling discussed the possibility of Newbury hosting the race on the August bank holiday weekend next year with Newbury town councillors at a full council meeting on Monday night.
The weekend of cycling would kick off with professionals racing through the town centre in a special one hour race on the Friday night.
Amateurs would then take centre stage on Saturday with various cycle rides in and around the town before the professionals' premier race on Sunday.
Mr Rowlands, who was part of the team that brought the Tour of Britain race to the town in 2008, said: “Because Newbury had hosted the Tour of Britain in the past there was an appetite to get the town involved again.
“We had a hugely successful event down the road in Salisbury on August bank holiday weekend this year and we want to grow the event in years to come. Just over 400 people competed in that event, including professionals and amateurs.
“It brought big economic and publicity benefits to the region with competitors using local hotels and that's before any spectator has arrived in the town.”
Newbury's involvement in the Tour of Britain was criticised when it ended up costing the town council £28,000 - four times the estimated cost. However, this event, a joint venture between British Cycling and tea manufacturers, Twinings, based in Andover, would require no payment for rights.
Speaking after the meeting, Mr Rowlands said: “We need to look at what's possible and then explore the likely costs implications. What we'd require from the hosts would be the costs of facilitating the event, for example road closures. At this stage it would be silly to speculate on costs.”
Newbury will be offered the August bank holiday race if Salisbury turn the opportunity down but British Cycling has not ruled out Newbury becoming the host of a new race in next year's calendar.
Representatives from British Cycling are due to meet with councillors from Salisbury Town Council and Wiltshire Council next month with a decision on race venues likely to be made before the end of the year.
Newbury Town Council has formed a working group to discuss the possibility of hosting the event.
