Competitive field announced for the Chorley Grand Prix
Over 160 of the country’s top cyclists have entered the Chorley Grand Prix on Saturday 4 April from which 140 will compete to be crowned the winner of the first round of the British Cycling Elite Road Race Series for 2015.
The field includes last year’s overall Elite Road Race Series champion, Yanto Barker who rides for the One Pro Cycling Team and multi-Olympic gold medal winner, Ed Clancy MBE. There are also five cyclists from Team Wiggins, which will be making its British team debut at the Chorley Grand Prix, organised by Chorley Council and British Cycling with sponsorship from Chorley Building Society.
The Deputy Leader of Chorley Council, Councillor Peter Wilson, said: “The Chorley Grand Prix is gearing up to be an extremely exciting event and it will be great to see so many of the country’s top cyclists competing to be crowned the first winner of the Chorley Grand Prix and the leader of the first round of the British Cycling Elite Road Race Series.
“Whether you follow cycling and know all the riders or you’re a bit of a novice like me, I can ensure you will have a great day out watching these elite athletes in action.
“The Chorley Grand Prix route is definitely one of the most challenging circuits in the Series and it will be interesting to see how the cyclists cope with the steep and narrow roads of Rivington and Belmont, where the Chorley Group King of the Mountains competition will take place.
“We think Rivington and the start and finish line on Park Road where the Chorley Council cycle village will be located will be the main spectator points but I would encourage people to bring flags and banners and line the pavements anywhere along the route to see a brilliant sporting spectacle.”
Also in the Chorley Grand Prix field of cyclists is local rider Richard Handley who rides for JLT Condor. Richard has been seen practicing up at Rivington in Chorley where the Chorley Group King of the Mountains competition will take place.
Adam Turner, Chorley Group Sales Director, said: “The battle to be crowned the Chorley Group King of the Mountains is sure to attract great interest and we are really looking forward to seeing who comes out on top.
“It would be great to see Richard do well, given the fact he’s a local lad, and I’m sure everyone will be keeping a close eye on the guys from Team Wiggins.
“The event certainly seems to have captured the imagination of the Chorley public and I think it’s great for the town to be able to stage something like this.”
Andrew Horsley, Vice Chair of Chorley & District Building Society added: “As a community Building Society Chorley and District is delighted to be sponsoring this prestigious event. On a personal note I feel the Chorley Grand Prix is a great opportunity to encourage people of all ages to get involved and support these elite athletes, whilst putting Chorley firmly on the map.”
The 140 cyclists will take on a five lap 116 mile route through Chorley, Limbrick, Rivington, Belmont, Abbey Village, Withnell, Brinscall, Wheelton, Buckshaw Village and back to Chorley.
Anyone attending the event or travelling in the area on Saturday 4 April is being reminded that there will generally be rolling road closures in place as the cyclists go past. However, Park Road and the west-bound side of Sheep House Lane and Rivington Road will be permanently closed for the day, meaning there will be parking and traffic restrictions in place in these areas.
For more information on the Chorley Grand Prix, visit chorley.gov.uk, like Chorley Council on Facebook or follow @ChorleyCouncil
ENDS
Pic captions:
Picture 1: (L-R) Cyclist Richard Handley takes a break from training at Rivington to meet Councillor Peter Wilson and Adam Turner from the Chorley Group.
For further information, contact Campaigns and Engagement Manager (Events) Louise Finch on 01257 515062