AN EXHILARATING and inspirational weekend of cycling is on its way to Stockton.
Friday 10 July to Sunday 12 July sees the return of Stockton Cycling Festival, with a packed programme of cycling action to enjoy – with activities suitable for all ages set on Stockton’s High Street and Riverside.
This increasingly popular celebration of cycling includes a thrilling mixture of elite racing, challenges for both experienced and novice riders as well as a host of family fun.
Councillor Norma Wilburn, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Arts, Leisure and Culture, said: “The Stockton Cycling Festival is one of our flagship sporting events and it is great to see such a busy programme of activities planned.
“This is a real opportunity for anyone interested in cycling, young or old, to come down to Stockton and experience the atmosphere of this family event where we have professional riders mixing with complete beginners.
“I would like to urge everyone to get involved with what is set to be a very enjoyable weekend of cycling and an apt precursor to next year’s British Cycling National Road Championships which will be held in Stockton.”
The 2015 Stockton Cycling Festival gets under way on Friday 10 July with a session of evening racing, from 6pm to 9pm, where world class cyclists will race around the newly regenerated Stockton High Street.
They will lap around the historic High Street, before cornering at the Globe Theatre and speeding back down the opposite side of the High Street in an adrenaline-fuelled event.
This pulsating race forms part of the British Cycling Elite series and will be broadcast on Eurosport. Visitwww.stockton.gov.uk/fridayrace for more information about this free event.
Saturday 11 July sees the popular Stockton Endeavour Sportive, a cycling challenge for all abilities, set off from the Riverside to a number of locations within the Borough and out onto the breath-taking North Yorkshire moors.
For those wishing to challenge themselves, there are a choice of rides available for beginners or seasoned cyclists, from 36 to 108 miles, each with a ‘Tour de France’ style escorted start. The deadline for entry is Sunday 5 July. For further details and prices, visit www.stockton.gov.uk/stocktonsportive
Families are welcomed to Stockton Riverside for a free event starting at 9.30am on Sunday 12 July for a day of sporting activities and fascinating stunts and displays. The specially created Events Village will be a hive of activity where families can enjoy watching riders fly around the ASDA StreetVelodrome, see amazing stunts and challenge each other to races on stationary Wattbikes.
At 1pm people of all ages and abilities are invited to bring their bikes and get involved with the RideStockton family cycle ride.
The Stockton Grand Prix also departs from Stockton Riverside at 1pm, with some of the country’s top professional cyclists battling it out around a competitive course in a captivating combination of skill and speed.
To view the full festival programme and to find out how you can get involved, visit www.stockton.gov.uk/cyclingfestival