Cycle enthusiasts are in for a treat at the beginning of August when Bishop Auckland hosts a number of closed-road cycle races. Members of the public are encouraged to come along and cheer competitors on and support local sport in our area.
The Bishop Auckland Cycle Race, featuring professional, amateur and youth events, is being held in town on Wednesday 6th August. The races will take place from 5.30pm to 9.15pm on a 850m track which runs along Fore Bondgate, Finkle Street, North Bondgate and Market Place.
A Middlesbrough based cycling organisation, Velo29, is organising the event, which has also received backing from Durham County Council, Bishop Auckland Town Council and the Bishop Auckland and Shildon Area Action Partnership.
Cllr. Maria Plews, Cabinet member for leisure, libraries and lifelong learning at Durham County Council, hoped that the event would build on the success of recent cycling events in the area. She said, “The Bishop Auckland Cycle Race is one of a number of cycling events taking place in County Durham this year.
“It follows the successful Pearl Izumi Tour Series which attracted large crowds when it came to Durham City in May, as well as the challenging 60-mile Marie Curie Cancer Care Etape Pennines which took place in Teesdale and Weardale at the weekend.”
“We hope people will come along and watch the races, cheer on the cyclists and enjoy the atmosphere of the event”.
Richard Williamson, of Velo 29 Events, said that attendees would see competitors of all abilities including some of the nation’s elite cyclists. Talking about the company’s first event in Bishop Auckland, he said ““Cycling is so popular and our aim is to increase not only the opportunities to take part in the sport but also the opportunity for people to come along and see some of the country’s best cyclists in action.”
The event’s timetable is detailed below:
5.30pm to 6.15pm. Youth racing – ages six to sixteen.
6.45pm to 7.45pm. Amateur racing – local riders, juniors aged sixteen to eighteen and female competitors aged sixteen and older.
8pm to 9.15pm. Professional/elite amateur racing – top riders from across the country.
Road closures on Wednesday, 6th August, are as follows:
· Parking bays on Market Place will be suspended for 24 hours from midnight
· Fore Bondgate leading to Newgate Street – closed 10am until midnight
· Entry from Durham Road to Market Place – closed 1pm until midnight
· Fore Bondgate, through Finkle Street – closed from 3pm until midnight
· North Bondgate from High Bondgate – closed 4pm until midnight
For further information contact Durham County Council email events@durham.gov.uk or call (03000) 282012.