British Cycling – They talking about the Durham Beast

Only in its fifth year, the Durham Beast ride is gaining a good reputation for a short, sharp shock of a ride. It may only be 50 miles – just over now there has been another hill added, but with just under two miles of vertical climb it is a case of if you are not going up, you are going down.

Starting at one of Durham County Council’s Park and Ride centres at Sniperley the mass start sees more than 750 cyclists take on 50 miles of well-signed roads around the north and west of Durham City.

With a water stop around half way – at Tow Law – there is ample time to rest for a little and see the fabulous sights from the top of the county.

For more information and route profile please go to the website where you can sign up for a great ride with some great company: http://www.durhambigride.co.uk

http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/sportives/article/sp20140721–Durham-Beast-a-short–sharp-shock-0

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Bishop Auckland Cycle Races 6th Aug 2014 | velo29events

New for 2014, Velo29 and Durham County Council have added the Bishop Auckland Cycle Races to the North East calendar of major road events. Though not yet part of the Elite Criterium Series, we are carrying all the infrastructure and excitement from our series event to Bishop Auckland, it’s the week after the last race of the short 6 round Elite Men’s series. We expect all the top teams to attend as there are very few opportunities to race at this level and with such a handsome prize pot.

The Town Centre of Bishop Auckland lends it’s self perfectly to this brand new 1km circuit. We’ve designed it to encourage exciting racing as well as great spectator access. There is a combination of wide open sections, fast corners, technical corners and narrow more challenging roads. Everything needed to give the riders opportunity to attack and chance a win!  It’s of course fully closed roads with barriers around all of the circuit.

At 1km the circuit will be lapped in around 90 seconds for the Elite race and only very slightly longer for the amateurs. This means spectators will be able to enjoy riders sweeping past very frequently. Our professional commentators will keep you posted on the action and for those not totally focused on the racing we’ve got a variety of cycle related activities to keep you entertained.

The format of the racing is as per our Elite series. Local amateurs race in the first event, it’s a 1 hour race with the best local riders competing for the generous prize pot. This category of racing always makes a great spectacle as the less experience riders, not under the strict instructions of the big teams are free to attack, make brave and often foolish but admirable solo efforts and give everything they have to chance a victory!

In the second race we’ll see all the best professional and Elite riders in the Country. We can expect to see some of our London Olympians, international stars and local hero’s battling for victory on the streets of Bishop Auckland. It’s again a 1 hour race, the riders will touch 60 km/h as they rush towards the Town Centre on the wide slightly downhill section of North Bondgate. They will pass the “S” bend section in front of the Town Hall without touching the brakes then loose speed for the tight right switch back and sprint through the finish line.

After passing the redeveloped wide Centre they will blast down the narrow and dark Fore Bondgate. From a riders perspective this will be a very challenging section, for spectators the narrow barriered street will make for some amazing viewing and a chance to get super close to the riders.

It’s the first year of a great new event on a really exciting circuit in a perfect setting. Riders and spectators will enjoy the excitement of such a high profile sports event in the heart of the North East.

Bishop Auckland Cycle Races | velo29events.

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