Shrewsbury Grand Prix to attract thousands
Today’s Shrewsbury Grand Prix is set to attract thousands of cycling enthusiasts and professionals to the county town.
It is the first professional cycling race to be held in the town centre for decades and has attracted top names including Olympic gold medalist Joanna Rowsell MBE.
Launched by the Shropshire-based Paramount Cycling Racing Team, the event has the full backing of British Cycling and is a nationally ranked race.
Race organiser Ben Lawrence, managing director of Beaumont Lawrence, which is sponsoring the event, along with Shrewsbury’s Stan’s Cycles, Cooper Green Pooks and Pure Telecom, said the spectacle would be a great day for everyone in Shrewsbury.
He said: “We’re so excited that Olympic medalist Joanna Rowsell is taking part in our women’s race and that young talent of the future like Hayley Edwards are also involved.
“It is a true honour and will really create some excitement in the town.
“Crit racing is all about tight circuits and is high speed and action packed.
“The top cyclists are expected to reach speeds of 40 miles per hour. When you add in Shrewsbury’s cobbles and the changes in gradient on the circuit, riders will have to be on top of their game to emerge victorious,” Mr Lawrence said.
The Shrewsbury Grand Prix will also include a host of family events, including the chance for the public to sample the race course from 3pm.
There will be a festival atmosphere with family-centered events, stall holders selling food and drink and entertainment, which includes organised rides from various point around Shrewsbury to the Quarry.
Other activities include Danny Butler’s Extreme Mountain Bike Show, with three displays at Bellstone at 3.15pm, 4.15pm and 5.15pm.
There will also be balloon modelling and face painting in the Square from 2.30pm to 5pm as well as bicycle powered art work.
Sustrans Bike It Officer Jess Holohan will be running a slalom skills competition with pupils from local primary schools at 2.30pm to 3.30pm at Bellstone.
The race action will kick off at 4pm from The Square with a 45-minute women’s only race.
A 50-minute amateur race will take place at 5pm with competitors drawn from local racing clubs while the 60 minute National B race with cyclists from across the country, will start at 6.30pm.
The route will take riders from The Square along High Street, Shoplatch, St Johns Hill, Cross Hill, Swan Hill, College Hill, Princess Street, Milk Street and then back on to the High Street.
The event will be streamed live online by Shrewsbury-based MicroVideo, viewers can watch the feed at www.shrewsburygrandprix.co.uk.
