Pendle News Room

Top international and British cycling teams are gearing up to compete around one of the fastest circuits on the calendar.

Race night, organised by Colne Town Council and Cycling Development Pendle Partnership, starts with the Coalition Facilities Management Youth Race at 6.30pm followed by the Riggs Autopack Sprint for Success at 7.10pm and the Fort Vale Colne Grand Prix at 8pm.

For the top riders and teams, the pressure is building for the Grand Prix, which is the second to last round of the British Cycling Men's National Circuit Series 2022.

Returning announcer and commentator for the event, Matt Payne, is looking forward to putting words to the action once again.

Matt said: “Colne’s unique circuit gives riders who have a different skillset a chance to be competitive with the current top riders in the series standings.

“The fast corners, fairly level circuit and long finishing straight all make breakaways harder to instigate.

“And we’ve got some of the very best road and track racing teams in the world involved.

“I’m expecting lots of close contact, plenty of scary moments and a blisteringly fast finish!”

Among some of the top teams in attendance will be Team Inspired, made up of Great Britain Cycling Team (GBCT) riders.

Matt Brammeier, a senior academy coach for GBCT said:

“We head to the race with a full team of under 23 riders.

“Among those are Will Tidball, the newly crowned U23 European Scratch race champion and Oscar Nilsson Julien, the U23 European Omnium champion.

“We are hoping for a strong performance before heading into the final push of the year with the Tour de l'Avenir and the World Championships Road Race.”

Other top teams include WiV SunGod, the British UCI Continental team who currently lie in top spot in the team standings.

They have amassed a whopping 223 points so far this series, heavily thanks to a podium sweep last week in Barnsley.

They are ahead of Saint Piran (94 points) and Wheelbase CabTech Castelli (77 points).

Both will be in close competition with Team Inspired (56 points) for the top spots in the overall leaderboard.

Race organiser Len Woffindin said:

“This is a short and intense circuit here in Colne where the riders are on the gas all the time.

“The corners don’t slow you down at all!

“With the downhill run to the line, the likely tailwind, and the added pressure that comes from this being the penultimate round of the series, we are in store for a great night.

“And we have a packed program of racing, with the youth race, and men’s and women’s support race, adding to the excitement and atmosphere before the evening’s headline race.”

Road closures will be in place through the centre of Colne, from 3pm to 11pm on Tuesday 26th July 2022.

To find out about which routes are affected, visit the Colne Town Council Events page on Facebook.