Family events to celebrate Shrewsbury Cycle Grand Prix
A host of family events have been announced to celebrate the Shrewsbury Cycle Grand Prix, including the chance to sample the course the racers will be using later in the day.
As well as watching high-speed, action-packed races during the event on Sunday 25 May 2014, spectators will be able to enjoy a festival atmosphere with family-centered events and stallholders selling food and drink.
Shropshire-based race organisers Paramount Cycling Racing Team have teamed up with Cycle Shrewsbury to deliver the entertainment.
Organised rides will be led out from various points around Shrewsbury to convene for refreshments in The Quarry before cycling into the town centre to try out the race route.
Race organiser Ben Lawrence, managing director of Beaumont Lawrence, which is sponsoring the event along with Shrewsbury’s Stan’s Cycles, Cooper Green Pooks and Pure Communications, said it was a great opportunity for budding cyclists.
He said:
“People can cycle around Shrewsbury while the roads are closed to traffic and they can see just how tight the crit racing will be when the professionals take to the course later.
“We wanted the event to attract as many people as possible to Shrewsbury and with it being a Bank Holiday weekend, we wanted to provide lots of entertainment for families to have a great day out.”
Other activities include Danny Butler’s Extreme Mountain Bike Show, with three displays at Bellstone at 3.15pm, 4.15pm and 5.15pm.
There will also be balloon modelling and face painting in The Square from 2.30pm to 5pm as well as bicycle powered art work.
Sustrans Bike It Officer, Jess Holohan, will be running a slalom skills competition with pre-selected pupils from local primary schools from 3pm-3.30pm at Bellstone.
The race action will kick off at 4 pm from The Square with a 45-minute ladies only race.
5pm will see a 50-minute amateur race with competitors drawn from local racing clubs, while the 60-minute National B race with cyclists from across the country will start at 6.30pm.
The route will take riders from The Square along High Street, Shoplatch, St John’s Hill, Cross Hill, Swan Hill, College Hill, Princess Street, Milk Street and then back onto High Street.
Ben Lawrence said:
“It’s going to be an action-packed day. It will be a real boost for Shrewsbury’s economy and a fantastic family day.
“Cycling is something the whole family can get involved in, and hopefully the races later on will inspire Shropshire’s rising sports stars.”
Claire Wild, Shropshire Council’s Cabinet member for highways and transport, said the council is very excited to see cycle racing return to Shrewsbury town centre.
She said:
“As well as encouraging people to visit Shrewsbury to watch the race, we hope that the Grand Prix will highlight what a great place Shrewsbury is for everyday cycling.
“The council has teamed up with the Grand Prix team to open the race route to the public before the racing starts to give them the unique opportunity to cycle in the town centre in a completely traffic-free environment.”
ClaireWild said the rides into the town centre from points around Shrewsbury will help local people to experience bits of the cycle network of which they may not already be aware.
She said:
“In addition, we’ve organised lots of fun cycling entertainment for families in the town centre during the afternoon of race day to inspire local children to become enthusiastic about cycling from an early age.”
For more information, see the Travel Shropshire website at http://www.travelshropshire.co.uk/grand-prix or visit the Shrewsbury Grand Prix website at http://www.shrewsburygrandprix.co.uk.
