CiCLE Classic victory for Otto van Zanden

From a field of 164 starters who set out nearly four and a half hours earlier from the same point, only 57 finished the gruelling 185k course, taking in the toughest roads, hills and farm tracks that characterise the area and have over its 20 years become the hallmark of the CiCLE Classic, considered to be Britain’s most iconic cycle road race.

The 20th edition always promised to be ‘special’ and so it proved,despite mindless vandalism which threatened to undo the hard work of the race’s tireless crew in presenting a course suitably ‘dressed’ as a temporarily identifiable race circuit rather than usual public roads.

Race director Colin Clews said: “The 20th edition of the race, now the longest ever running one day international race in Britain was always going to be special, and it did not disappoint.

“The large crowds out watching that race were fantastic on an unusually warm and dry day, and we could not have wished for better racing from all the competitors.

“It is sad, however, that there are those in our society who felt the need by their actions in advance to try and disrupt and reduce the entertainment and spectacle that the race provided for the majority.

“Their mindless and non sensical actions will never overcome our passion for both the sport of cycling and presenting the beautiful area in which we live in its best light to the wider world.”

After its processional start in Oakham, the race headed to Wymondham, where on its first circuit of the village a major crash involving over half the competitors caused a stoppage and regrouping with two riders hospitalised.

The crash failed to diminish the riders' enthusiasm to race and the race restarted at high speed, discouraging any breakaway attempts as the race returned to pass through Oakham, where any trailing riders enjoyed a brief respite as the town’s level crossing caused a further short stoppage.

From that point the racing began in earliest and attack after attack caused a race of attrition for many as the farm tracks around Somerby and Owston began to take their toll.

Owston once again was the centre of the action with a massive crowd enjoying live commentary, the BBQ and drinks available there from the race and local villagers.

On the second passage of Owston My Pad racing’s Edward Morgan took the sprint prize of a ‘Rider's Weight in Beer’ donated by the Grainstore Brewery.

But that was virtually the only major award that by that stage had not been taken by Van Zanden, who had already stamped his superior climbing ability of the field at all of the King of The Bergs climbs at Burrough and Cold Overton.

It was on the final circuit back into Owston with over 50 kms remaining that Van Zanden, together with Britain’s Tom Armstrong, riding for Wheelbase-Cabtech and Denmark’s Magnus Lorents Neilsen riding for the Australian Aton6-Cycleur Deluxe squad made their move.

With a lead fluctuating between one minute and nearly two minutes at times, these three created the final categorised climb at Cuckoo Hill before the last two off road sectors of Stapleford Park and newly introduced Canal Berg just south of Wymondham to enter Oakham.

Greeted by a large and enthusiastic crowd in Oakham’s town centre there to witness the start of the final finishing circuit along Rutland Water’s North Shore to Barnsdale.

With a lead of then just over a minute it seemed that the three had the race to themselves, and so it proved less that 15 minutes later as the three contested the final sprint with Van Zanden just edging out Armstrong and preventing a ’home’ win, with Neilsen a close third.

The remaining peloton was led home by Oliver Dawson of the Jackroo-Handling team one minute 19 seconds in arrears.

With Van Zanfden having already won the Pearce’s Jewellers-sponsored King of the Bergs competition and led home the Pearce’s Jewellers sponsored Team ward for his Azerion0VillaValkenbrg team, as well as the first U23 rider prize, his domination of the race was complete.

He also took home to The Netherlands the ‘Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe award of a large pork pie that the winner of each CiCLE Classic has become famous in receiving.

The event was totally funded by commercial sponsors, the major of these being Sigma Sports (Oakham) and Schwalbe UK who are joint title sponsors.

This year they are joined by ANEXO/CAMS as presentational sponsors.

In addition Pearce’s Jewellers sponsor the King of The Bergs and Top Team competitions and Wymondham Windmill the Sprint competition.

The Oakham town sprint was supported by Oakham Wines.

As they have done for 20 years, Tim Norton Motors provide the race officials' vehicles and The Grainstore Brewery sponsor the unique prize of a Rider’s Weight In Beer at the special sprint which takes place in Owston village.