An international cycling competition returned to Rutland for the 20th year last weekend (Sunday 26 April).

Otto van Zanden, riding for the newly formed Azerion-Villa Valkenburg professional team from The Netherlands, emerged the winner of the 20th SigmaSports/ Schwalbe UK Rutland International CiCLE Classic last Sunday (26 April) when it finished in Oakham.

Only 57 of the 164 cyclists taking part finished the 'gruelling 185 kms' course taking in the tough local roads hills and farm tracks that have become the hallmark of the CiCLE Classic, considered to be "Britain's most iconic cycle road race".

Speaking after the event, Race Director Colin Clews said: "The 20th edition of the race, now the longest ever running one day international race in Britain was always going to be special, and it did not disappoint.

"The large crowds out watching that race were fantastic on an unusually warm and dry day, and we cannot have wished for better racing from all the competitors.

"It is sad however, that there are those in our society who felt the need by their actions in advance to try and disrupt and reduce the entertainment and spectacle that the race provided for the majority.

"Their mindless and non sensical actions will never overcome our passion for both the sport of cycling and presenting the beautiful area in which live in its best light to the wider world."

A spokesperson for the race explained that "mindless vandalism" threatened to disrupt the event before the race began, undoing the hard work of the race's crew of helpers in presenting a course suitably 'dressed' as a temporarily identifiable race circuit rather than usual public roads.  

advertisement

After its processional start in Oakham at 11am, the race headed to Wymondham, where on its first circuit of the village a crash involving over half the competitors caused a stoppage and regrouping whilst two riders were hospitalised.

A spokesperson for the race said: "The crash failed to diminish the riders enthusiasm to race and the race restarted at high speed discouraging any breakaway attempts as the race returned to pass through Oakham, where any trailing riders enjoyed a brief respite as the town's level crossing caused a further short stoppage."

On the second passage of Owston, My Pad racing's Edward Morgan took the sprint prize of a 'Riders weight in beer' donated by the Grainstore Brewery.

A large crowd gathered in Oakham's town centre to witness the start of the final finishing circuit along Rutland Water's North Shore to Barnsdale.

The final sprint was contested by Van Zanden (first), together with Britain's Tom Armstrong (second), riding for Wheelbase-Cabtech and Denmark's Magnus Lorents Neilsen (third) riding for the Australian Aton6-Cycleur Deluxe squad.

The remaining peloton was led home by Oliver Dawson of the Jackroo-Handling team one minute 19 seconds in arrears.

With Van Zanden having already won the Pearce's Jewellers sponsored King of the Bergs competition, he also took home to The Netherlands the 'Ye Olde Pork Pie Shoppe' award of a large Pork Pie that the winner of each CiCLE Classic has become famous in receiving.

The event was funded by commercial sponsors, the largest of these being Sigma Sports (Oakham) and Schwalbe UK who are joint title sponsors.

advertisement

This year they are joined by ANEXO/CAMS as presentational sponsors. In addition Pearce's Jewellers sponsor the King of The Bergs and Top Team competitions and Wymondham Windmill the Sprint competition. The Oakham town sprint is supported by Oakham Wines.

For the 20th year, Tim Norton Motors provided the race officials vehicles and The Grainstore Brewery sponsored the unique prize of a rider's Weight In Beer at a special sprint which takes place in Owston village.