BikeBiz Bicycle and cycling retail news
By now you know the score: the UK’s longest established cycle show is back at the NEC this September, running 25th to 28th (25th is trade and press only).
We spoke to the team at Upper Street Events to flesh out the details of the new CX and trade race, as well as some of the other features you can expect to see at this years show…
Cyclocross rides into Cycle Show
There’s been no shortage of chatter around the rise and rise of cyclocross and Cycle Show will reflect that growth in interest with a new Cycle Show Cyclocross race on Sunday morning. Entries are already open for it – on the British Cycling website – and the elite races for men and women both have £1,000 prize money up for grabs and are limited to 40 places each.
The racing will start and finish inside the show with the rest of the course blazing a path through the NEC woodlands adjacent to the Metropole hotel. John Holmes and the team from Derby Cyclocross will be ensuring everything runs smoothly on the day.
Industry face-off
Before the elites set off there’ll be an industry race open to anyone from a bike brand, distributor, shop, or media company. Entry proceeds from the industry race will go to Wings for Life, which is the spinal cord injury charity that Martyn Ashton is raising money for this year. You can register interest in taking part in the race at: www.cycleshow.co.uk/cyclocross.
Dirt jump contest
Another new addition for 2014 is a big air MTB dirt jumping contest run with Monster Energy and headlined by UK Monster rider and current FMB World Champion, Sam Pilgrim. Riders will drop in from a ten metre tower with one mega jump to showcase their freestyle trick portfolio. With a £5,000 prize purse, Cycle Show is confident it will attract a stellar line-up of dirt jumpers to the UK for the first major contest here in nearly ten years.
Devilish attractions
Roller racing experts, South Coast Sprints, are building a new four man roller rig to showcase a ‘Devil takes the hindmost’ race programme they’ve designed especially for this year’s show.
The racing will take centre stage in the Doom Bar pub/café and on Saturday afternoon there will be a club championship open to all UK cycle clubs. The winning team of four will receive a delivery of Doom Bar prizes for their fellow club members.
Sweet celebrity appearances
On the celeb front, the first confirmed name to appear at the NEC is non other than Cannondale Pro Cycling Team rider Ivan Basso who’ll be opening the show on Friday, but also meeting the press and doing signing sessions on the FSA stand on the trade day.
And Cycle Show regular Lord Alan Sugar will be once again making an appearance on Yellow’s stand to see the latest Pinarellos.
The exhibitor list is swelling too – take a look here. Meanwhile trade and press can register here.
