McEvoy looking forward to Premier decider as he enters talks for 2012 team move

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Johnny McEvoy (Motorpoint) is looking forward to the weekend's Richmond GP - the final Premier Calendar event of the season - as he and teammate Ian Bibby top the overall leaderboard.

"We'll treat it like a normal race," he told Cycling Weekly. "We'll look for the best result for the team and we won't race each other. It's a great position to get into - it's an extra bonus to be so consistent."

"As long as one of us wins, we'll be happy and, of course, it's a great last hit-out for the Tour of Britain," he continued.

McEvoy is looking to move to a new team for next year, and the Tour of Britain will be an important chance to show what he has to offer.

"I'm speaking to a few people," he said. "I'm considering a few options but I can't say anything now. I'm looking to move things on and do some more big races. It'll all happen after the Tour of Britain. I'm focusing on the U23 World Championships [on September 29] too, and I don't want to disrupt that."

He has just returned from a two-day Motorpoint training camp, scouting the fifth and sixth stages of the Tour of Britain.

The youngster, who is only twenty-two, includes the Tour Series Canary Wharf round and two stage wins at the Tour Doon Hame amongst his top results in 2011.

Jonny McEvoy waiting to arrive on the podium, Tour de Mumbai 2011



McEvoy at the Tour of Mumbai in February



British Cycling's Hall of Fame was unveiled last Saturday at the National Cycling Centre.
Coinciding with a Reg Harris Memorial Day, 50 stalwarts of cycling who were inducted into the Hall of Fame last year have now been honoured with a commemorative plaque at Manchester Velodrome.

Harris has become the latest person to be recognised for his achievements; a memorial to the national and world champion has previously stood in the Velodrome.

BC's Executive Director Peter King CBE said: "I'm delighted to be able to unveil the Hall of Fame, which is a fitting tribute to each of the individual contributions these people have made to British Cycling over the last fifty years.

"To have them recognised here at Manchester too, the home of British Cycling, is absolutely fantastic."

Reg Harris plaque, National Cycling Centre

Alistair Slater (Hargroves Cycles) wrapped up the National Junior Road Race Series at the Junior Tour of Wales over the weekend, defending a commanding sixty-six point lead that he took into the event while Brennan Townshend (Team Southwest) won the race's general classification.

The tour was raced over five stages in two days, with Townshend winning the race after defending a lead from the first day. He picked up second place on the tour's second stage, but won ten bonus seconds during the stage putting him into the race lead.

The races more selective fourth and fifth stages were won by Olympic Development Programme rider Owain Doull (Hargroves Cycles), with Townshend finishing second on the last stage and in the bunch over a minute down on the stage before.

Jon Dibben (Hargroves Cycles) and Jim Lewis (Glendene CC) finished second and third respectively behind Slater in the series' overall standings.



Doull, Slater, Dibben, Isle of Man Youth Tour 2011

Three of the National Junior RR Series' protagonists (from left: Owain Doull, Alistair Slater and Jon Dibben) after competing earlier this year in the Isle of Man Youth Tour

Tomorrow is the deadline to submit applications to the John Ibbotson Fund for funding in 2012. Riders should email a CV and a statement as to why they think they are a suitable candidate to receive the backing by September 1.

The fund started in 2005, after the shock death of the former professional rider from arythmagenic right ventricular dysplasia.

This year, they are supporting Daniel Kogan and Sam Allen, who are both racing in France.

For more information on the fund, click here (external link)

The Northern Rock Cyclone - already one of the country's biggest weekends of cycling - is set to get even bigger in 2012. More than 4,000 riders took part in the this year's events, and the organisers are hopeful that the introduction of a ride specifically aimed at beginners and young families will increase the already impressive turnout even further.

The family ride will take place on Thursday 28 June, 24 hours beforethe Leazes Criterium is staged in the centre of Newcastle.

The Northern Rock Cyclone Challenge sportive will again be held on the Saturday and the Beaumont Trophy Premier Calendar race on the Sunday.

Organiser Peter Harrison said: "We want as many people as possible to be able to enjoy the spirit of the Northern Rock Cyclone. The new Tyne Six Bridges Leisure Ride is perfect for beginner cyclists and for young families so is a great way for everyone to get involved."

This year's event coincided with the National Road Race Championships, which used the same course as the Beaumont Trophy.

Northern Rock Cyclone

The Ryals: a key part of the Cyclone and Beaumont Trophy

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Related linksBritish News round-up: 2011 index page

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