Walkling Leads St Raphael in Poole Wheelers 25

Steve Walkling (VC ST Raphael/Waites Contracts) won the Poole Wheelers Harold Cribb memorial 25 on a misty, distinctly autumn morning down in Dorset. Walkling stopped the watch on 51:47 for a 35 second winning margin.

Debutant at the distance, Mike Ford (Blazing Saddles) prevented a podium clean sweep by the St Raphael outfit, clocking 52:22, 20 seconds ahead of Gregg Parker.

The early mist soon cleared leaving a calm, fast morning on the P415 at Upton, with 34 riders under the hour. Unlucky Grant Drummond (Zoom Tri Club) rolled a tub on the Holes Bay turn and came down heavily. Kim Piper (Southdown Velo) stopped to help, an ambulance was called and Drummond was soon back at the HQ telling anyone who would listen, about his morning!

1, STEVE WALKLING (VC ST RAPAHAEL/WAITES CONTRACTS) 51:47
2, MIKE FORD (BLAZING SADDLES) 52:22
3, GREGG PARKER (VC ST RAPHAEL/WAITES CONTRACTS) 52:42
4, ARAN STANTON (VC ST RAPHAEL/WAITES CONTRACTS) 53:25
5, SIMON BEROGNA (VC ST RAPHAEL/WAITES CONTRACTS) 54:04
6, NICK FREWIN (BOURNEMOUTH JUBILEE WH) 54:16
7, ANDY RIVETT (VC ST RAPHAEL/WAITES CONTRACTS) 54:25
8, TOM ALLIBAN (1ST CHARD WHEELERS) 54:35
9, SIMON HEALEY (ANDOVER WHEELERS) 54:45
10, BEN KEIGHTLEY (PRIMERA-SPOTRS.COM) 54:56
1ST LADY

LESLEY WALKLING (VC ST RAPHAEL/WAITES CONTRACTS) 56:03

Mr Stephen Walkling Velo Club St Raphael V 00:50:17 08:35:00 00:51:47
Mr Michael Ford Blazing Saddles Cycles Ltd S 08:34:00 00:52:22
Mr Greg parker Velo Club St Raphael V 00:50:35 08:30:00 00:52:42
Mr Aran Stanton Velo Club St Raphael V 00:52:56 08:33:00 00:53:25
Mr Simon Berogna Velo Club St Raphael V 00:51:51 08:20:00 00:54:04
Mr Nick Frewin Bournemouth Jubilee Whs V 00:52:31 07:50:00 00:54:16
Mr Andrew Rivett Velo Club St Raphael V 07:57:00 00:54:25
Mr Tom Alliban 1st Chard Whs V 00:53:27 08:05:00 00:54:35
Mr Simon Healey Andover Whs V 00:52:31 08:00:00 00:54:45
Mr Ben Keightley Primera Sports S 00:55:07 08:11:00 00:54:56
Mr Wayne Pitman Poole Whs V 00:55:04 08:21:00 00:55:27
Mr Terry Icke Poole Whs V 00:52:04 08:10:00 00:55:35
Mr James Goward Four4th V 00:53:16 08:25:00 00:55:36
Mr William Grainger Andover Whs S 00:54:52 08:27:00 00:56:00
Mr Les Pick Poole Whs V 00:55:52 07:44:00 00:56:03
Mrs Lesley Walkling Velo Club St Raphael LV 00:55:21 08:31:00 00:56:03
Mr Cliff Rowe Bournemouth Jubilee Whs V 00:53:28 07:55:00 00:56:23
Mr Samuel Wadsley Poole Whs J 00:56:16 08:16:00 00:56:31
Mr John Samways Bournemouth Jubilee Whs V 07:42:00 00:56:36
Mr Stuart Peckham New Forest CC V 00:56:56 07:36:00 00:56:39
Mr Philip Mosley VeloRefined Aerosmiths S 00:53:18 08:15:00 00:56:59
Mr Steven Pink CC Weymouth S 00:56:36 08:32:00 00:57:00
Mr Shaun Smart Southdown Velo V 00:56:25 08:22:00 00:57:01
Mr Peter Wilson Bournemouth Arrow CC V 00:57:22 08:07:00 00:57:28
Mr Andy Millward Yeovil CC V 00:54:16 07:45:00 00:57:37
Mr Tim Wallis Southampton University Road Club S 08:01:00 00:57:59
Mr Vincent Hounsome Gillingham & Dist Whs V 00:56:38 08:02:00 00:58:00
Mr Martin Beale Velo Club St Raphael V 00:56:06 07:52:00 00:58:06
Mr Hugo Baldacchino Yeovil CC V 00:58:09 07:53:00 00:58:27
Mr Douglas Parker Sid Valley CC V 0:58:51 08:13:00 00:58:29
Mr Bryce Riglar CC Weymouth S 07:47:00 00:58:43
Mr Gary Tuskin Poole Whs V 00:55:51 08:12:00 00:59:49
Mr Jack Wiltshire Poole Whs S 00:57:56 08:03:00 00:59:50
Mr Jonathan Hyndman i-team Cyclists Club V 07:38:00 01:02:07
Mr Philip Evans Bournemouth Jubilee Whs V 00:58:26 08:06:00 01:02:20
Mr Derek Dowden Charlotteville Cycling Club V 00:59:57 08:08:00 01:02:42
Mr Christopher Mullett Gillingham & Dist Whs S 01:01:39 08:09:00 01:02:59
Mr Dave Lyons Yeovil CC V 01:01:26 08:29:00 01:03:06
Mr Denzil Hunt Poole Whs V 01:00:07 07:56:00 01:03:29
Mr Peter Perrin Bournemouth Arrow CC V 07:33:00 01:03:36
Mr Colin Crocker Sotonia CC V 01:02:44 08:04:00 01:04:09
Mr Terry Belbin Poole Whs V 01:01:20 08:14:00 01:04:26
Mr Robert Flynn Poole Whs S 01:03:39 07:37:00 01:05:10
Mr Martin Nobbs Portsmouth Triathletes V 07:58:00 01:06:46
Mr Fred Newton Wessex Road Club V 01:01:39 07:32:00 01:08:44
Mrs Kim Piper Southdown Velo LV 01:05:45 08:18:00 01:09:16
Ms Debbie Hallett Portsmouth Triathletes LV 07:49:00 01:10:38
Mr Richard Davidson Poole Whs V 00:52:49 07:40:00 01:15:30
Mr Phil Morris Hampshire RC V 01:22:53 07:39:00 01:19:51
Mr Doug Conroy Redmon CC V 01:12:11 08:24:00 01:19:52
Mr Grant Drummond Zoom Tri Club V 08:19:00 DNF
Mr William Clark Poole Whs S 08:26:00 DNF
Mr Lee Piercy Performance Cycles CC V 07:34:00 DNS
Mr Dave Pickering Bournemouth Jubilee Whs V 00:54:27 07:35:00 DNS
Mr John Chapman CC Weymouth V 00:55:30 07:41:00 DNS
Mr Rob Lee Yeovil CC V 01:03:23 07:43:00 DNS
Mr Graham Lenton New Forest CC V 01:00:26 07:46:00 DNS
Mr Pete Cotty Poole Whs V 01:06:56 07:48:00 DNS
Mr Mark Denney Poole Whs V 00:55:25 07:51:00 DNS
Mr Gary Cure Bournemouth Arrow CC V 07:54:00 DNS
Mr Gary Burley Andover Whs V 01:03:58 07:59:00 DNS
Mr Jason Streather Velo Club St Raphael V 08:17:00 DNS
Mr Mark Usher Mendip CC V 01:00:51 08:23:00 DNS
Mr Stewart Harrison Andover Whs V 00:59:23 08:28:00 DNS

Tour of Britain Team Presentation

A selection of rider quotes from the Team Presentation at Liverpool ONE!

Sir Bradley Wiggins, Team Sky
Wiggins, who won the 2013 Tour of Britain, confirmed he will be racing flat out to defend his title at the Friends Life Tour of Britain, almost certainly the last time he contests a stage race targeting overall honours.

"Yep, this will be it for GC," said Wiggins. "When I was at the Tour of California earlier this year I said I would never go for it again - it's quite hard work leading a bike race - but then I thought I would like one more crack it at this one. The plan this winter will be to put on some weight on and I will be training for the track so I guess stage racing to win the GC will be out the window after this.

"I feel fitter than this time last year. I haven't race a lot but I've been in quite intense training since the Commonwealth Games, in a really controlled environment. I knew at the Commonwealths that I would be doing this so all my preparation has been for this and the Worlds which are ten day after the Tour of Britain this year which is much better than the two days last year.

"I will definitely be racing to try and win whether I can is another matter. If I can just stay close to the big GC guys on the Tumble and not loose time in time bonuses I can be competitive. It's a fast TT I know it quite well, in an ideal scenario I will just be a couple of seconds off the jersey on that final morning.

"I've ridden the Tumble a few times on the PruTour and the Nationals and a couple of times in training I know Ditching Beacon from my childhood and I'm not too concerned about it. We have a good team this year with some strong riders coming out of the Tour de France."

Nicolas Roche, Tinkoff Saxo
Irishman Nicolas Roche could be one of Wiggins' strongest rivals given his strength up short sharp climbs and ability to contest and place highly if a select group ends up going for line honours.

"Hopefully it could suit me although hadn't quite realised how difficult the whole week was,” he admitted. "I had concentrated on looking at Stage Three (Tumble), which I rode on the Tour of Wales way back in junior days.. All I remember is the cattle grid and that it was quite a tough one! It seems to me that almost every single day there are some technical bits - a drag, climb, descent. It's going to be good and I will have to remember how to sprint as well, which I haven't done in a while.

"Knowing Wiggo if he says he is gong thre to win, he is never too far off. Look at California this year. When he goes for something it's not often he's far off. I would trust his word when he says he's ready for it. Leo Konig will be there or thereabout - I didn't know he was riding until I bumped into him just now. Damn. He will be super strong after the Tour. There are all sort of others. Sam Bennett who was super close in some of the finishes last year, and why not Steve Cummings at BMC?

"This will be just my second Tour of Britain, I rode 2009 and that was a great memory. I was Irish champion that year so was able to wear the Irish champions jersey.”

Steve Cummings, BMC Racing
Steve Cummings is Liverpool through and through with his favourite football club being Liverpool FC and his next favourite Liverpool Reserves! "I came to the presentation with my wife and we parked on level three in the John Lewis car park and just walked across for the presentation. I love it here in Liverpool it feels like home and I love coming back. It's a refreshing mental break. I miss the people and the sense of humour, in fact I should spend more time here really. It's a great place for having a laugh and enjoying yourself.

"In 2008 we finished here on this Liverpool circuit and we came past where my Grandad's flat used to be and I had goose bumps. Then we went up past Sefton Park and when I was a kid my other Grandad lived up that way. It was a pretty weird feeling to be honest. You think back to when you were a kid riding around those roads you never think you will be racing around them for real some day.

"It's three years since I've raced the Tour of Britain. I have missed it. I always follow it on the internet if I am not here. I've had two second place finished in GC losing by seconds and it normally it is that close and I think it will be again. I will just give it my best. Every day there seems to be something going on in the final so you have to concentrate.”

Sylvain Chavanel, IAM Cycling
In-form Frenchman Sylvain Chavanel appeared to rule himself out of contention for overall honours: "I am in good form and enjoyed my win at GP Plouay last week so anything could happen but to be honest my main aim now is the World Championships later this month, where perhaps the course could suit me. So I don't think I will really be going for GC this week, although I might certainly try for a stage win! I want to maintain condition and form but I also want to stay safe. NO crashes!”

Marcel Kittel, Team Giant Shimano
Speed King Marcel Kittel has been keeping a low profile since winning four stages at the Tour de France but will be flat out in the sprints this week where his head-to-head with Mark Cavendish should be entertaining, while the like of Sam Bennett and Adam Blythe can never be discounted especially on days which are not as straight forward as the opening day criterium in Liverpool and the concluding London circuit on Sunday.

"It's a shame we didn't get to race so much at the Tour de France this year although it is not just about us two, there are other great sprinters like Kristoff as well. I don't what Cav's condition is but any race he enters he will be a factor in the sprints and looking at the route book there would seem to be at least three sprints at least, possibly more. Hopefully we can pay the fans back for some of the races that didn't happen this summer.

"Since the Tour de France I have been busy doing some criteriums and media and sponsor appointments. I haven't been on my bike as much as I would like but now it's time to get back racing seriously again because this is a very good race, and then at the World Championships I want to repay some of my colleagues by doing some good work in the Team Time Trial.”

Alex Dowsett, Movistar Team

Finally Britain's Commonwealth Games Time Trial champion Alex Dowsett can't wait until next Sunday's short, sharp fast time-trial in London. Like Wiggins if the Movistar Team rider could reach that in contention he could be in business but is more fearful of the Tumble than most. "I have a plan though for Tuesday, I will have to try and do something on that day."


The Friends Life Tour of Britain 2014
Stage One Sunday 7 September Liverpool
Stage Two Monday 8 September Knowsley to Llandudno
Stage Three Tuesday 9 September Newtown to the Tumble
Stage Four Wednesday 10 September Worcester to Bristol
Stage Five Thursday 11 September Exmouth to Exeter
Stage Six Friday 12 September Bath to Hemel Hempstead
Stage Seven Saturday 13 September Camberley to Brighton
Stage Eight a Sunday 14 September London individual time trial, presented by TfL
Stage Eight b Sunday 14 September London circuit race, presented by TfL

Kiss Shows Class at Cricklade Kermesse!

Tony Kiss (Performance Cycles) won the 55 mile, Ride 24/7 Cricklade Kermesse, attacking late on the last lap, Kiss soloed to a deserved victory in Wiltshire. The Performance Cycles rider was part of a twelve man break that went away on the second of fifteen 3.4 mile laps around the historic Saxon town. A group of four riders led by Lee Davis (Velosure-Giordana) tried to get across but chased in vain.

The adventurous dozen included, Luke Nolan (Live2Ride), Ride 24/7 pair Mark Perry & Charles Rees, Adrian Lawson (Cadence RT), Steve Thomas (Dream Cycling), Ross Evans (Radeon Cycling), David Billings (VC ST Raphael), Simon Coles (Norwood Paragon), Matt Dunsbeer (Veloton Team), Tim Wiggins (Team Wiggle), & Daniel Guest & Kiss,(Performance Cycles) and while the bunch looked at each other the gap started to grow. From 20 seconds on lap 4 to 1:32 on lap 8, eventually going out to 2:45, the flat parcours did nothing to deter a chase but the bunch lacked the organisation of the break and the arguments were starting. Up front it was a different kind of row as Kiss and Guest tested the legs of the other ten, with three to go Kiss went off the front but it was short lived as thoughts turned to the finale. Charles Rees tried with just over a lap to go, gaining a lead of 12 seconds, Kiss rode across the gap hoping for an alliance but Rees was cramping and spent, the man with the hammer never negotiates, and Kiss was on his own, milking the finish on Cricklade high street. The race organisers, National Escort Group, accredited marshalls, and Cricklade town council all worked hard to put on a cracking race on the edge of town on a busy Saturday afternoon, all deserve credit.

Reaction:
Tony Kiss “ Charles (Rees) attacked with a lap and half to go, I closed him down going up the little climb, I was hoping he was going to stay with me and we could work together but he was obviously a bit spent, so I just went straight past. We were working well together in the break it felt good, I have had three months out with a broken wrist so I am really pleased”
Dan Guest “He (Tony) gave me a win earlier in the season so I owed him one, so this is the payback”
Mark Clarke (Cricklade Council) “ We are really pleased to support the cycle race and think it is great for the town, we are all big cycling fans”
Result
1 Tony Kiss Performance Cycles
2 Daniel Guest Performance Cycles
3 Matt Dunsbier Veloton Team
4 Steve Thomas Dream Cycling
5 Ross Evans Radeon Cycle Coaching
6 Simon Coles Norwood Paragon CC
7 Adrian Lawson Cadence RT
8 David Billings VC St Raphael
9 Tim Wiggins Team Wiggle
10 Luke Nolan Live2Ride Race Team
11 Mark Perry Ride 24/7
12 Charles Rees Ride 24/7
13 Malcolm Dixon Dream Cycling
14 Michael Ward Ride 24/7
15 Thomas Bowering VC Meudon
16 Jamie Penton Radeon Cycle Coaching
17 Ashley Hutchison VC St Raphael
18 Matthew Ullmer Performance Cycles
19 Joe Barry Ride 24/7
20 Liam Walsh VC St Raphael
21 Trevor Smith Cotswold Veldrijden
22 Carl Luke Live2Ride Race Team
23 David Janes Live2Ride Race Team
24 Duncan Lancashire Andover Whls
25 Dave Tilling
26 Unknown Rider
27 Rory Gilling Performance Cycles
28 Wayne Coombs BH-Solidor-WAM Youth
29 Jack Mattock BH-Solidor-WAM Youth
30 Niel Dunnage Cotswold Veldrijden
31 Thomas Leach Gloucester City CC
32 Nick Watson Ride 24/7 Finished
33 Scott Chalmers Felt-Colbornes-Hargroves RT
34 Lee Davis Giordana Racing Team
35 Mitch Evans Ride 24/7

FULL RESULTS AND PHOTOS TO FOLLOW

CC Weymouth Club Hilly 18,Results

P451 Hilly 18
1, JAMES HORTON CANNONDALE 44.37
2, STEVE PINK CCW 46.45
3, CHRIS RANDALL CCW 47.16
4, JULIAN THACKER VCSTR 47.40
5, PETER JANES CCW 48.33
6, DAVID BUTT CCW 49.55
7, GORDON SCOTT C&DW 51.13
8, PHIL SMITH CCW 52.00
9, NICK IRELAND CCW 52.44
10, STEVE TRIGWELL CCW 55.14
11, ANDREW PRESTON CCW 56.00
12, JEREMY GUY CCW 56.48
13, ANDREW JACKSON CCW 57.46
14, STUART CARRINGTON CCW 1.01.40
15, OLIVER CARRINGTON CCW 1.08.04

All-Diabetes Pro-Cycling Team Compete in Tour of Britain

All-Diabetes Pro-Cycling Team Compete In the Friends Life Tour Of Britain
Team Novo Nordisk racing to inspire and educate diabetes community

The first all-diabetes professional cycling team, Team Novo Nordisk, competes on British roads for the first time this weekend in the country's leading professional cycling race, the Friends Life Tour of Britain. The team is racing, at the highest level of cycling, to inspire, educate and empower the 3.2 million people affected by diabetes in the UK.1

Team Novo Nordisk is a global sports team with more than 100 cyclists, triathletes and runners who live with diabetes, spearheaded by the professional cycling team. This unique team of cyclists all have type 1 diabetes, and manage their condition while training and competing in one of the toughest endurance sports.

Phil Southerland, co-founder and CEO of Team Novo Nordisk said, "When diagnosed with diabetes, many people think it means they won't be able to live life the way they'd hoped. Team Novo Nordisk is racing to inspire people with diabetes to set and achieve their goals, whatever they may be, and show that the first step towards this is good diabetes control.”

As part of the current diabetes epidemic, the UK has also seen an increase in avoidable diabetes complications. Regular physical activity has been shown to have both short- and long-term health benefits for people with diabetes, including improved blood glucose control, reduced body-fat, and reduced risk of cardiovascular complications.2,3,4

Dr Rafael Castol, Team Novo Nordisk Medical Director said, "Good control can be achieved through diet and exercise, in combination with medication in many cases. Stepping up levels of exercise doesn't have to be off limits for people with diabetes, provided it is discussed and planned with the individual's healthcare team”.

Rachel Cummings, Head of External Relations and Policy, Novo Nordisk UK and Ireland, said, "Novo Nordisk is proud to support Team Novo Nordisk as they race across the UK to raise awareness of diabetes, and encourage those who have diabetes that it should not prevent them from reaching their goals. This initiative is part of the Novo Nordisk Changing Diabetes® campaign that aims to bring attention to the need for earlier detection and better management of diabetes so that people can live full lives without suffering complications that can result from poor management.”

Racing through nine stages across the country, over eight days, the Friends Life Tour of Britain will begin in Liverpool, and advance through UK towns and cities such as Worcester and Brighton, towards the finish line in London for a time trial and circuit race. Everyone, whether affected by diabetes or not, is welcome to come and support Team Novo Nordisk at any of the race stages.

Mick Bennett, Race Director said, "I think it's fantastic that we have Team Novo Nordisk taking part in the Friends Life Tour of Britain this year. A team surrounded by such a great story and cause we hope that people will get behind them on their debut with the race. We wish them every success.”
Full Race Line Up
Team Sky
1 Sir Bradley Wiggins
2 Sebastian Henao
3 Ian Stannard
4 Ben Swift
5 Bernhard Eisel
6 David Lopez

IAM Cycling
11 Sylvain Chavanel
12 Heinrich Haussler
13 Kevyn Ista
14 Matthias Brandle
15 Sebastien Reichenbach
16 Jerome Pinaeu

Rapha Condor JLT
21 Kristian House
22 Chris Opie
23 Tom Moses
24 Richard Handley
25 Mike Cuming
26 Hugh Carthy

Great Britain
31. Tao Geoghegan Hart
32. Dan McLay
33. Dan Pearson
34. Chris Latham
35. Chris Lawless
36. Germain Burton

Garmin Sharp
41 Jack Bauer
42 Thomas Dekker
43 Tyler Farrar
44 Lasse Hansen
45 Dylan Van Baarle
46 Dylan Girdlestone

MTN Qhubeka
51 Songezo Jim
52 Linus Gerdemann
53 Dennis van Niekerk
54 Ignatas Konovalovas
55 Youcef Reguigui
56 Karel Hink

Giordana Racing Team
61 Marcin Bialoblocki
62 James Moss
63 Nathan Edmondson
64 Bradley Morgan
65 Steve Lampier
66 Rob Partridge

Omega Pharma Quick-Step
71 Mark Cavendish
73 Mark Renshaw
73 Michal Golas
74 Michal Kwiatkowski
75 Niki Terpstra
76 Julien Vermote

Team Novo Nordisk
81 Martijn Verschoor
82 Andrea Peron
83 Javier Megias
84 David Lozano
85 Charles Planet
86 Kevin De Mesmaekers

Madison Genesis
91 Tom Stewart
92 Mike Northey
93 Liam Holohan
94 Tom Scully
95 Tobyn Horton
96 Alex Peters

Movistar Team
101 Igor Anton
102 Alex Dowsett
103 Pablo Lastras
104 Juan Jose Lobato
105 Javier Moreno
106 Enrique Sanz

Bardiani CSF
111 Enrico Battaglin
112 Nicola Ruffoni
113 Sonny Colbrelli
114 Edoardo Zardini
115 Franscesco Manuel Bongiorno
116 Andrea Piechele

Team Raleigh
121 Matthieu Boulo
122 Yanto Barker
123 Ian Wilkinson
124 Morgan Kniesky
125 Mark Christian
126 George Atkins

Belkin Pro Cycling
131 Lars Boom
132 Theo Bos
133 Jos van Emden
134 Rick Flens
135 Bram Tankink
136 Maarten Wynants

Team NetApp Endura
141 Leopold Koenig
142 Jan Barta
143 Sam Bennett
144 Zak Dempster
145 Scott Thwaites
146 Paul Voss

NFTO Pro Cycling
151 Adam Blythe
152 Jon Mould
153 Joshua Hunt
154 Sam Harrison
155 James Lowsley-Williams
156 Dale Appleby

BMC Racing Team
161 Steve Cummings
162 Martin Kohler
163 Sebastian Lander
164 Daniel Oss
165 Dylan Teuns
166 Peter Velits

An Post Chain Reaction
171 Shane Archbold
172 Aaron Gate
173 Robert Jon McCarthy
174 Sean Downey
175 Glenn O’Shea
176 Owain Doull

* Ryan Mullen (rumoured to be in the team)

Team Giant Shimano
181 Marcel Kittel
182 Brian Bulgac
183 Tom Stamsnijder
184 Tom Veelers
186 Albert Timmer
186 Bert de Backer

Tinkoff Saxo
191 Nicolas Roche
192 Manuele Boaro
193 Rory Sutherland
194 Christopher Juul Jensen
195 Rasmus Guldhammer
196 Nikolai Trusov

ToB,Chichester Pupil Takes the Crown in Skoda KoM Comp!

Chichester Pupil Takes The Crown In ŠKODA King Of The Mountains Jersey Competition
Chichester school girl, Vanessa Hang, 10, proved she has a creative flair, as she designed her way to the top spot in a national design competition held by ŠKODA UK.

As the official car partner to the Friends Life Tour of Britain, ŠKODA UK launched its contest at the Goodwood Festival of Speed in June. The competition offered younger visitors the opportunity to design the famous ŠKODA King of the Mountains jersey in the Tour of Britain, awarded to the best climber in the race.

ŠKODA UK will supply 50 support vehicles for the Tour of Britain, taking place from 7-14 September 2014; these include the flagship ŠKODA Superb, Octavia Estate, Yeti and Rapid Spaceback. The fleet of ŠKODA support vehicles, designed to offer class-leading space, will transport engineers, medical staff and essential maintenance equipment during the race.

Vanessa Hang, who attends Oakwood Preparatory School in East Ashling, Chichester, was picked as the overall winner. Her prize is to see her design transferred on to the official jersey and worn by the King of the Mountains winner. Vanessa will also have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to present the jersey, sporting her one-off design, to the successful rider at The Tour of Britain's official prize ceremony taking place in London on 14th September.

Vanessa comments: "Two of my favourite things are riding my bike and drawing, so I'm really excited that my design will be used on the real jersey. I can't wait to watch the cyclists at the final and see the winner wear my design.”

Emily Burns, Communications Manager for ŠKODA UK, comments: "This is the third year we have offered youngsters the opportunity to design the actual ŠKODA King of the Mountains jersey for the Tour of Britain. We were overwhelmed with the high standard of entries to our competition.

"On behalf of ŠKODA UK, I'd like to congratulate Vanessa on her winning design – it was wonderful to see her creativity and enthusiasm for cycling, and we can't wait to see her present it to the King of the Mountains winner on the podium next week.”

The award-winning ŠKODA range offers the perfect combination of performance and practicality, including up to 1,865 litres of load space (ŠKODA Superb Estate). The range will once again demonstrate its ideal suitability for supporting cycling events. Highly regarded by cyclists, both professional and recreational, the range also includes clever accessories such as roof bars, an internal bicycle holder and towbar preparation.

As a long-standing champion of cycling, with its heritage in bicycle manufacturing dating back to the company founders in 1895, ŠKODA provides vehicles to the Tour de France and other major cycling events across the world. The manufacturer is also the official vehicle sponsor for a number of professional cycling teams.

Saturday Morning Autumn Track Sessions for Youngsters!

Feria Sport will be running a series of cycle sport coaching sessions for young people aged between 7 years and 16 years old at the Bournemouth Velodrome (BH10 4EP).

Called "Saturday Morning Race Track" the sessions will be organised around different ability groups. The sessions will develop fitness and technique and the series aims to get riders up to competition standard to enable them to race on the track.

The session leaders will be Richard Eastham and Jason Falconer, both qualified and accredited British Cycling coaches with experience of working with young people in a sports coaching environment.

Fixed-gear track racing bikes will be made available at each session. Riders will need to wear their own helmet and suitable clothing. Riders must also bring along their own bicycle, a drink and a snack. No need to book, just turn up on the day.

Sessions start at 10h00 until 12h00. The format will comprise skills, drills and general coaching for the first 90 minutes and then the last half hour will be dedicated to coach-led racing for those riders wanting to take part in competitions. We hope to run a points league for those that take part in the racing events.

Sessions will cost £7 per rider for the first 90 minutes or £10 for the full two hours. This fee includes access to a fixed-wheel hire bicycle. Those taking part in the sessions for the first time will need to present a completed parental consent form.

If the session has to be cancelled due to wet weather, an announcement will be made via Twitter and will appear on our home page at least one hour before the session start time.

- 6th, 13th, 20th and 27th September 2014.
Full Details HERE

Prendas Arm Warmers for Autumn!

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Kittel to Challenge Cavedish at Tour of Britain!

Marcel Kittel to lead Team Giant Shimano in Friends Life Tour of Britain
Just two months after winning two of the Tour de France's British stages this July, Marcel Kittel will race back into the UK at the Friends Life Tour of Britain, which begins in Liverpool this Sunday (7 September).

Kittel, who won the Tour de France stages to Harrogate and The Mall, plus the bunch sprints in Lille and Paris, will lead Team Giant Shimano in the eight day Friends Life Tour of Britain, which will be his first appearance in the race.

The German, who has won eight Tour de France stages in the previous two editions of the race, will spearhead a strong Giant Shimano sprint train, which includes Dutch quartet Brian Bulgac, Tom Stamsnijder, Tom Veelers and Albert Timmer, plus Belgian Bert de Backer.

The weekend saw two further rider line-ups for the Friends Life Tour of Britain also confirmed, with Nicolas Roche returning to the race for the first time since 2009 to lead the Tinkoff – Saxo squad

Riding alongside Roche will be Italian time trialist Manuele Boaro, who recently finished third overall in the Tour of Denmark, and former Tour of Britain stage winner and race leader Nikolai Trusov, who won Stage Three to Taunton in 2007 while racing for the former Tinkoff Credit Systems team.

Completing the line-up will be Rory Sutherland, Christopher Juul-Jensen and Danish youngster Rasmus Guldhammer, currently riding for Tinkoff Saxo as a stagiare, or trainee, who formerly rode for world famous HTC Columbia team in 2010.

The second line-up confirmed over the weekend was that of Rapha Condor JLT, the reigning Pearl Izumi Tour Series champions. Leading the men in black will be former SKODA King of the Mountains Kristian House and Cornish sprinter Chris Opie.

Their remaining four riders will be Mike Cuming, Richard Handley, Tom Moses and Hugh Carthy, who won the week long Tour of Korea earlier this Summer.

All three squads will be at the Friends Life Tour of Britain team presentation in Liverpool city centre on Saturday evening. Hosted in Chavasse Park by the Liverpool ONE complex, teams will appear on stage from 1730 onwards, the evening before the city hosts Stage One.

The full 120-rider provisional start list will be published on Tuesday (2 September) morning.

The full list of competing teams in the 2014 Friends Life Tour of Britain is as follows:

An Post Chain Reaction; Bardiani CSF; Belkin Pro Cycling; BMC Racing; Garmin Sharp; Giordana Racing Team; Great Britain; IAM Cycing; Madison Genesis; Movistar Team; MTN Qhubeka; NFTO Pro Cycling; Omega Pharma Quick-Step; Rapha Condor JLT; Team Giant Shimano; Team NetApp Endura; Team Novo Nordisk; Team Raleigh; Team Sky; and Tinkoff Saxo.