19th – 22nd June – A Big Weekend for Northern Cyclists

Since being established in 2007 the Virgin Money Cyclone has grown from strength to strength,  the event is now a festival of cycling over the whole weekend finishing with the Beaumont Trophy  on the Sunday that this year has been classified as European tour event, making in one of just four UCI road race held in the UK

Tyne 6 Bridges Leisure Rides

The weekend kicks off on the Thursday with two rides of different distance starting at ever popular Cycle Hub café in the Ouseburn. Both routes are designed for those who are new to peddling or want to introduce the family to cycling. The routes follow sustrans routes on the north and south sides of the Tyne and a marshalled by sustrans volunteers.

Newcastle Leazes Park Criterium Races

On the Friday afternoon and evening the action shifts from the Quayside to Leazes park for the Criterium Races and registration for Saturday’s main event. The Leazes Park Criterium evening kicks off with a 1km youth race after the two youth races. The evening will finish with the a one hour race for some of the best riders in the country and from overseas,  many of the riders taken part have won medals for team GB at Olympic and World Championship levels.

Virgin Money Cyclone Challenge Rides

On the Saturday everything starts at Kingston Park home of Newcastle Falcons, the Cyclone Challenge is a Series of 3 different rides over 3 distances varying in difficultly. Starting at the rugby club and heading out to the Northumberland countryside giving everyone a challenge.  The distances for the cyclone are 33 miles, 63 miles and for the keen 104 miles.

The Beaumont Trophy and Curlew cup

Sunday starts with the Curlew cup that is part of the women’s national road race series, the route is 62 miles starting and finishing Stamfordham, the route will take the women on a tour of Northumberland lanes and over the Ryals.  After the women’s it’s the men’s turn to compete for the Beaumont Trophy previous winners include Sir Bradley Wiggins, with the Beaumont Trophy Being a UCIEurope tour event this year the distance has been increased to 117miles, the Beaumont Trophy route heads round the same lanes of the Northumberland as the Cyclone Challenge use on the Saturday, so if you want to see the pro riders peddling the same tarmac as you why not come along and watch.