Stonehenge
The Motorpoint Spring Cup Series reaches the penultimate round at the Cycle Wiltshire Grand Prix on Sunday 8 May.
Sir Bradley Wiggins’ Team Wiggins will be one of the 11 professional cycling teams that will be racing through south Wiltshire in the race on Sunday 8 May. Around 140 elite riders from top professional teams will take part in the elite cycle race, part of the British Cycling’s Motorpoint Spring Cup Series.
Last year’s winner, Andy Tennant, said: “The crowds here in Wiltshire were fantastic. It’s a challenging landscape to cycle, but incredibly rewarding at an event like this.” Andy is not set to start for Team Wiggins but Sam Harrison, Daniel Patten and Mike Thompson will ride.
Local people can line the route to support and see some of the best riders in Britain as they race.
This year the day starts with the team introductions at the Salisbury Market Place from 10am. The riders will then set off under non-race conditions at 11am. The peloton will head through the city centre including the Cathedral Close, before the official race start in Wilton. The racing circuit will then take in Burcombe, Barford St Martin, Compton Chamberlayne, Fovant, Ebbesbourne Wake, Bishopstone and Broad Chalke, with riders taking on the challenging climb of Fovant Hill multiple times. The race will pass through Wilton five times and will finish in Blue Boar Row in Salisbury at approximately 3pm.
Young people can bring their own bikes and helmets along and enjoy free street cycling activities in Salisbury Market Place between 11.30am – 2.30pm.
The event is part of the council’s Legacy for Wiltshire initiative, which focuses on encouraging people to keep fit and active, bringing local communities together and boosting the local economy.
Baroness Scott of Bybrook, OBE, leader of Wiltshire Council and chair of the Legacy Steering Board said: “We have been extremely fortunate in Wiltshire to have seen lots of top class cycling right on our doorstep. I am delighted that the rise in the profile of cycling has inspired so many people to get on their bikes, get fit and enjoy themselves in our beautiful Wiltshire countryside.
“I’m sure lots of people will be thrilled to see the riders compete and I know many will also be taking up the challenge on 2 October to cycle one of our Sportive rides. Both events promise to be exciting, active and a lot of fun.”
Maggie Rae, corporate director, said: “Fantastic events like this in Wiltshire really do inspire people to get more active, and we’ve seen an increase in the number of people cycling throughout our wonderful county. I’m looking forward to watching the professionals riding through our streets.”
Cycle Wiltshire Sportive takes place on Sunday, 2 October 2016 at Five Rivers Health and Wellbeing Centre as part of the wider opening programme for the centre. The three non-competitive rides include 10, 43 and 85 miles for people for all abilities to take part in.
