The official countdown to the Staffordshire Cycling Festival is on as JLT-Condor's Felix English and Peal Izumi Sports Tour International rider Lauren Creamer - winner of last year's Women's Tour of Staffordshire - joined Festival organiser Paul Rowlands in Stafford town centre to celebrate the Festival's arrival this July.
Taking place on Friday 3rd - Saturday 4th July, the festival starts with the sixth edition of Stafford GP, which is set to attract some of the UK's biggest cycling stars including Team WIGGINS and JLT-Condor.
The event is free to spectators and those attending on the opening night to cheer on their sporting heroes will be treated to a host of activities to get the evening started - from balance bike races for the kids and a chance for the public to ride the closed pro circuit with Free Ride Friday, before the professionals take centre stage in the town centre.
The action then moves to Shugborough Hall Estate for day two, with food and drink and more family-fun activities at this year's Festival Village happening alongside two public sportives, the INTO Staffordshire 35 mile ride and a revamped route for the longer ride, at 66 miles.
Open for sign-ups to anyone with a passion for pedals, the INTO 35 mile ride is a great introduction for those tackling sportives for the first time. The 66-mile challenge is for more confident riders and involves a number of tests, from steep climbs and heavy sections that test riders' willpower.
A great way to work up an appetite and toast the achievement of crossing the finishing line, all sportive participants will be rewarded with a soft drink or free half pint of Staffordshire Cycling Festival Ale courtesy of Lymestone Brewery.
An adrenalin-pumping short course mountain bike race will provide the warm up on Saturday afternoon, before the pros finally draw the Festival to a close with the Francesco Group Women's Grand Prix and the fast and furious Shugborough Kermesse - both set to boast the very best in British road cycling talent.
The festival launch party took place recently at the Swan Hotel - the start and finish line for Friday night's iconic Stafford Grand Prix. Lauren Creamer said: "Staffordshire has some of the best roads in the country and the Staffordshire Cycling Festival has something for everyone. It's quickly become a top event on the sport calendar. I had a brilliant time racing last year and I'm looking forward to being part of the Festival again."Staffordshire Cycling Festival founder and organiser, Paul Rowlands, said: "I'm delighted to be able to bring the event back to Staffordshire for a third time. We've had almost 200 sportive entries so far and anticipate hosting another talented field of professional riders.
"The response last year was fantastic. The weekend may have seen some rain but spirits certainly weren't dampened, as over 10,000 people turned out to participate and enjoy the full line up of Festival events."
For details of the full programme or to register to ride one of the two sportives, visit www.ridestaffs.co.uk.
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