Winchester Criterium to host regional cycling championships in 2016
Press release: 18/12/2015
Winchester Criterium to host regional cycling championships in 2016
Winchester City Council and partners are delighted to announce that the 2016 Winchester Criterium will include British Cycling's South Regional Circuit Race Championships.
The event will take place on Sunday 5 June 2016.
This development means that the winners of the Youth (Under 16) boys’ and girls’ races, as well as the senior men’s and women’s races, will be crowned British Cycling Regional Circuit Race Champions as well as holding the Winchester Criterium title for the year and being in line for a range of great prizes.
In keeping with previous years, organisers will also hold Under 8 to Under 14 races in addition to senior support races. These are not Regional Championship Events per se, but will be no less competitive with titles, cash prizes and a range of goodies on offer.
The Criterium and CycleFest events, which aim to encourage more people to participate in cycling, were reintroduced in 2013 as part of the London 2012 Olympic legacy.
Colin Docker, Director and Vice Chair at British Cycling and South Region Vice Chair, said: “In the past three years, the Winchester Criterium and CycleFest has grown to become one of the biggest and best events in the region.
“We’re delighted that Winchester will host the most important day of racing in the regional calendar and I look forward to some really competitive racing on the renowned technical circuit right in the heart of the city.”
Local cycle retailer Hargroves Cycles will again headline sponsor the event, and will partner with Winchester City Council to help promote the event as well as having a strong presence on the day.
Hargroves' Marketing Manager Craig Surgey said: "This city and circuit is what Criterium racing is all about. With one of our flagship stores in Winchester, and our reach across the region, the event is an ideal one for us to support.
“Hargroves Cycles supports and hosts many local events but this certainly was the jewel in the crown event for Hampshire in 2015. We are proud to support it again in 2016.”
Winchester City Council is committed to providing opportunities to be inspired by, and to get involved in, activities like cycling.
Amanda Ford, Head of Sport and Physical Activity at Winchester City Council commented: "I'm really excited that we are providing a home to the Regional Championships this year, and will be partnering again with Hargroves and a terrific group of local organisations, including cycling club VC Venta, who will be well represented on the circuit and in the background again this year.
"The whole Broadway area will be a hive of cycling activity on the day. We will open the event circuit for a Family Ride before the racing begins, and there are great viewpoints for the racing itself so there will be something for everyone.”
For more information about the Winchester Criterium and CycleFest 2016, log on to winchestercriterium.org.
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