WEDNESDAY'S BRITISH NEWS ROUND-UP

• Wednesday, 3 December 2008
• Andrew Canning
• 0 Comments

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CAVENDISH IN MALLORCA
Britain’s Mark Cavendish is in Mallorca at the moment, for his Columbia team’s pre-season get-together and training camp.

It was a good opportunity for Cavendish to try out the team’s new Scott Addict bikes as well as meet his new team-mate Mark Renshaw, who joins the team from Crédit Agricole and will be one of his key lead-out men.

The training camp was also an opportunity for the Manxman to discuss his 2009 race programme. Cavendish will kick off his season early in 2009 with the Tour of Qatar, and will then head to the Tour of California, Tirrenno-Adriatico, Milan-San Remo, Ghent-Wevelgem, Paris-Roubaix, the Tour of Romandie, the Tour of Italy (first part), the Tour of Switzerland, the Tour de France (where he will target the green jersey) and finally, Paris-Tours.

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HOY TO CONTINUE UNTIL 2014?
Chris Hoy confirmed yesterday that he will continue past the London Olympics in 2012 and well make his farewell ride at the 2014 Commonwealth Games.

The Games are to be held in Glasgow with the cycling events at the new Glasgow velodrome, by which time it will be called the ‘Chris Hoy Velodrome’ when it finally opens in 2011. Hoy also took the opportunity to announce a bid yesterday to stage a round of the Track World Cup in the 2012-2013 season at the Glasgow velodrome.

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SUSTRANS TO ASSESS CYCLING IN FLAGSHIP CYCLING TOWNS
Sustrans, the UK’s leading sustainable transport charity, will undertake a detailed analysis of cycling levels in the 18 recently-announced cycling towns.

The study will include analysis of the schools taking part in the Sustrans Bike It programme as well as the collection of data flow of cyclists in key areas in the 18 towns.

“The information we supply will be central to monitoring how the Cycling Towns and Cities are working,” said Andy Cope, senior Director of Sustrans’ Research and Monitoring Unit.

“They have set themselves some ambitious targets and objectives and it is crucial for them to know how they are progressing”.

The 18 cycling towns are: Blackpool, Cambridge, Stoke on Trent, Colchester, Leighton Linslade, Shrewsbury, Southend, Southport and Ainsdale, Woking, York and Greater Bristol as well as the existing towns of Aylesbury, Brighton and Hove, Derby, Darlington, Exeter, Lancaster and Morecambe.

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ROLLAPALUZA WINTER LEAGUE
The Rollapaluza Winter League (or the ‘Brass Monkey’ series) continues tonight at the Horseshoe in East London for the ‘kilo’ event.

As well as the usual roller racing entertainment, there will also be an open microphone and decks for any budding Rollapaluza MCs or DJs who fancy giving it a go.

Entry is £5 for competitors and spectators. Starts at 6pm, with qualification until 9pm and knockout rounds until the finish.

Horseshoe, 24 Clerkenwell Close, EC1R 0AG. See www.rollapaluza.com for more details.

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SOUTH OF ENGLAND ‘CROSS CHAMPS
This Sunday will see the annual South of England cyclo-cross championships, organised by the Swindon RC.

The Lydiard Park course near Swindon is fairly technical in places, yet fast in others.

The senior men’s race will be the highlight of the day and it looks set to be a fiercely fought race with all three leaders from the local leagues competing (Vin Cox, Tim Dunford and Scott Chalmers) as well as defending champion, Stu Bowers.


If you have any British news you would like to share, please contact andrew_canning@ipcmedia.com