Elite to prove pedal power (From Gazette & Herald)

Elite to prove pedal power

Two wheels will rule the roads around Ryedale this weekend when the British Cycling National Road Race Championships arrives at Duncombe Park, Helmsley.

The event will be going ahead as planned, and will be the first time in the championship's 20-year history that it has come to Yorkshire.

Saturday will see the Women's Elite and the Women's Under-23 classes taking to a new course, which has two circuits that are based around Hovingham, and will cover a distance of just over 65 miles. Favourite to win this event will be defending champion and world number one Nicole Cooke from South Wales.

Sunday will be the turn of the men, who will take to the same circuits but will cover a distance of over 125 miles.

Stars taking part in this ride include defending champion Roger Hammond, from Oxford, who is a team-mate of six-time Tour de France winner Lance Armstrong in his Discovery Channel team. Another rider to watch is Italian Charly Wegelius, who put in a strong showing during the three-week Giro D'Italia, a race which is second only in tour status to the Tour de France.

The day will also give the public a chance to get in on the action. In partnership with Cancer Research UK, Ryedale Ride will leave Duncombe Park and use part of the championship course before veering north to travel through Kirkbymoorside before returning to Helmsley.

The Ryedale Youth Challenge Skills and Racing Competition will also be taking place to keep the crowds entertained at the stately home.

Updated: 13:31 Wednesday, June 22, 2005