Some of the country’s top professional cyclists will compete at the RideStaffs festival at Shugborough from Friday 1st to Sunday 3rd July.
The event will draw hundreds of elite athletes to participate in its two pro races.
Friday evening’s RideStaffs GP, presented by Specialized, is the second round of the British Cycling Elite Circuit Series.
Saturday evening’s RideStaffs Kermesse, presented by risual, will mark the opening round of the British Cycling Motorpoint Grand Prix Series.
Spectators will get a chance to spot some of the biggest names in cycling throughout the event including:
- Reigning National Circuit Race Champion Ian Bibby of team NFTO
- The World Scratch Race Champion 2016, Sebastien Mora Vedri, racing under the Raleigh GAC banner
- Team Madison Genesis’s Tom Stewart, winner of the 2016 Lincoln GP and Velothon Wales
- Reigning Stafford GP title holder Jon Mould –also winner of the 2016 Tour Series – will defend his title alongside JLT Condor team mate, Graham Briggs
- Team Wiggins will also be out in force for Saturday’s Kermesse, despite kingpin Bradley’s absence due preparation for the Olympic Games, with team members Mark Christian and Sam Harrison both set to compete.
[box type=”shadow” ]Organiser Paul Rowlands said: “We’re delighted that, once again, the crème de la crème of British cycle racing will compete at RideStaffs. Cycling aficionados will relish the chance to see some of the top riders action, but the very format of both the GP and Kermesse means that the races offer high-octane excitement for everyone – it’s just a great spectator event all round.”[/box]
Cycling action
This year, both Friday and Saturday night’s action will take place at Shugborough Hall – a change from the GP’s town centre course of previous years – making full use of the glorious parkland. Friday’s GP is set to start at approximately 8pm, with crowds set to be thoroughly entertained in the run-up by the spectacle of Elephant Bike Racing, while in the lead-up to Saturday’s main race – which will start at around 7pm – spectators can enjoy free kids’ Strider balance bike racing from 12.45 – 2.45pm, alongside all the action from the Grand Depart of the Tour de France on the big screen.
The party will continue on Sunday, when members of the public converge to take part in the event’s two sportives – the shorter INTO22 route and the 68 mile RideStaffs68 – with friends and family offering support set to enjoy the day’s action from the Tour de France on the big screen.
All weekend, festival goers will be kept well refreshed by a good choice of ‘street food’ style stalls, special RideStaffs blend coffee from HasBean served by the Barisatas of Bold Street Coffee; a wine bar courtesy of the Wolseley Wine Loft and beer from Stone’s Lymestone Brewery – which has once again brewed a special ale for the occasion.
For those keen to ‘get on their bike’ and join the action, a few spaces remain for the longer of Sunday’s Sportives.
[box type=”info” ]RideStaffs 2016 takes place on Friday 1st, Saturday 2nd and Sunday 3rd July 2016 and entry is free of charge for spectators (£3 car parking charge by the Shugbourough Estate) – with a limited number of VIP hospitality tickets for the Friday evening GP for sale HERE. For full details and to plan your weekend, visit www.ridestaffs.co.uk[/box]
