The John Ibbotson fund is inviting young British riders to apply for funding for the 2013 season. Each year the fund backs two riders by sending them to France, placing them in a team and providing financial support.
Any interested riders should send their cycling CV, plus a letter explaining why they think they should be chosen for the 2013 season to johnibbotsonfund@hotmail.co.uk. Applications close on September 16, and interviews take place on September 30. More information can be found on www.johnibbottsonfund.com
The successful applicants will also receive free cardiac testing carried out in conjunction with charity CRY - Cardiac Risk in the Young.
The fund is running the Ibbo's Cake Quest Sportive on September 23, its final fund raising event of this year. Three routes all start and finish in Walton on the Hill (near Box Hill) and head off in to the Surrey hills. Entry fee is just £20.
Rapha Condor's future is safe
The future of the British UCI Continental team Rapha Condor is secure even though the main sponsor will be providing Team Sky with its kit for next year. The sponsorship deal, that will see the team in Rapha clothing on and off the bike, is a huge investment for the British clothing company.
When Team Sky started in 2010 Rapha said at the time that such a deal would have been nigh on impossible for them to fulfil. The fact they now can just three years later shows how rapidly the company has grown.
The British team run by John Herety has had to take Sharp off of their kit ahead of the Tour of Britain. Sharp became WorldTour team Garmin's second sponsor in July and UCI rules don't allow two teams with the same sponsor to compete in the same event. Costa Express has stepped in as third sponsor for the remainder of the season.
Training at Kent Velopark
Race training sessions started at the Kent Velopark this week and will continue to run under floodlights as the year progresses. Sessions will take place each Wednesday, starting at 7.00pm, cost is £5. The sessions are taken by a British Cycling level Three road specific coach. For more information go to www.cyclopark.com
See Sir Chris in Glasgow
Tickets are still available for the Thunderdrome track event in Glasgow this October that incorporates the Scottish track championships. It is the opening event for the Sir Chris Hoy velodrome and although the man himself won't be riding, he will be there. The event is promoted by the Braveheart fund that has its annual dinner that weekend. Tickets for that are now sold out. www.braveheartfund.co.uk
Cycling and Architecture in London
Organisers of Open-City are running 'Architecture on your bike - Baroque 'n' Roll revivals' on Saturday, September 1. The tour is lead by expert architectural guide David Garrard of English Heritage. The guide will start at 10am and will be three to four hours long.
The meeting point is the City of London Information Centre, St Paul's Churchyard, and ends in Greenwich. Cost is £9.50.
Rapha Super Cross returns
Three events make up the Rapha Super Cross series this Autumn with two new venues supporting the popular Alexandra Palace event.
October 20 - Broughton Hall, Skipton
October 27 - Misterton Hall, Lutterworth
October 28 - Alexandra Palace, London
Once again the emphasis is on fun as much as it is racing. The popular tequila shortcut is back to tempt riders and there'll also be live music, beer tents, frites and a wall of foam.
For more information go to www.rapha.cc/super-cross
(Almost) a new British record on Alpe d'Huez
A 48-year-old British man has set an incredible time of 38'48" on Alpe d'Huez, putting him in fifth place for the climb on the Timtoo website. The time is recorded on the website that has set up timing systems on many of France's famous climbs.
Bryan Noble, who runs a ski and cycle chalet in Venosc, near Alpe d'Huez, soon came clean to Cycling Weekly. Just goes to show that if you mistakenly leave the timing chip in your gilet that goes up in the lead car you can beat the system!" he admitted.
In fact all the top four times are believed to be fake. Yann Le Mercier of Velo Assistance Electrique currently tops the leaderboard with a very impressive time of 34'48", faster than any 'assisted' riders from the 1990's.
Dulwich Paragon record
South London club Dulwich Paragon welcomed their 500th member recently, a significant milestone for the club that has seen rapid growth recently. More on this story in the September 13 issue of Cycling Weekly, on sale Thursday, priced £2.99
Undercover Mechanic: Contrary to popular belief, the bike industry is not collapsing - but disinformation is rife
You need to ride easy to get faster - and that might be easier than 'Zone 2', here's why
