After the sell-out success of last year’s Great Manchester Cycle, the event returns this summer and organisers are working towards a bigger, better edition.
The event, offering three distances on closed roads in the nation’s second city will largely follow the same circuit as last year, including a stretch on the Mancunian Way, the city’s busiest motorway, which is normally closed to cyclists.
In 2012, a maximum field of 7,000 people ranging from families to experienced club cyclists took part under sunny skies. It was supported by cyclist Lizzie Armitstead, who became Great Britain’s first medal winner at the 2012 Olympic Games and Rebecca Romero a queen of the track at the Beijing Olympics in 2008. The race also attracted TV personalities such as Ashes to Ashes actor Dean Andrews, Emmerdale’s Tom Lister, Tony Audenshaw and Rik Makarem. Coronation Street rivals Ryan Thomas and Chris Fountain turned out too.
In 2013 organisers Nova International, who also co-ordinate the UK’s biggest mass participation event, the Great North Run, are sticking to the recipe and the event will start at football club Manchester City’s Etihad Campus and offer an urban circuit through Manchester and Trafford.
Jamie Still, Operations Manager at Nova International, said: “We were thrilled with the success of the 2012 event and we are working very hard to ensure this year will be even bigger and better.”
Riders have three route choices: a family friendly single circuit 13 mile event, an intermediate 26 miler and for club riders after a challenge, a four lap, 52 mile jaunt.
Entry for each route will cost just £20 for adults and £5 for kids. Children aged 3-7 can take part for free.
For route information and event details and entering, visit www.greatcycle.org