Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic director confident for future as major sponsors commit for 2021

Thousands of race fans crowd the 200km route EMN-200325-095910002

The race, which had been scheduled for Sunday, April 26, is one of the region’s biggest sporting events and brings in hundreds of riders as well as team support staff from across the country and the world.

This years confirmed line-up of 176 riders and dozens of teams included a first-ever entry from Canada.

The Classic is one of only four International Cycling Union (UCI) registered races held in the UK each year and draws thousands of spectators as cycling fans from across the region head to the borough.

CiCLE Classic race director Colin Clews (middle) with assistant race director Kelvin Hoy (right) and David Middlemiss, managing director of Giant Rutland Cycling, one of the race's chief sponsors EMN-200325-095859002

“The popularity and growth of the Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classics over the past 15 years has been due to the tremendous support given to the races by the local communities throughout Rutland and Melton,” said Clews.

“The race organisation takes very seriously its responsibilities to these communities, and as sad as we are at this cancellation, it is important that we play our part, in whatever way possible, at reducing the impact that the virus will have upon the local area.”

Clews, from Wymondham, had spent many months on organising the 16th edition of the international race, but fortunately the cancellation will not hit the event in the pocket and jeopardise future events.

Concerns over the policing and medical cover required to run the event was another major factor in the decision.

Last year's sprint finish in Melton was among the closest in the race's 15-year history EMN-200325-095922002

He said: “Owing to my own health not being great earlier this year, I have been a little behind on organising affairs, and with an eye on the coronavirus situation I had been very cagey at spending out on anything that could not be used when we are able to go ahead once more.

“Totally coincidentally, the rider numbers arrived just yesterday, but as they are emblazoned with the 16th edition, then they still hold good for next year.

“Our hotel provider, the Urban Hotel in Grantham, have been very good and have agreed to cancel our booking on the basis of outside our control, and at no cost.

“That otherwise could have been a major hit.

A decision has yet to be made about July's Women's and Junior Men's CiCLE Classic. Picture: Ian Price EMN-200325-095848002

“All of our sponsors have agreed to stay with us and that is a major headache removed, so hopefully we will be good to go in 2021.”

The cancellation does not currently extend to the Women’s and Junior Men’s CiCLE Classic, planned for Sunday, July 5, but will be reviewed in the light of developments.