NOCTURNE SERIES NEWS
Women’s racing comes to Smithfield
12/05/09
The popular Smithfield Nocturne will now attract some of the UK’s top female cyclists, thanks to the inclusion of a new women’s race at the event on 6th June.
The event, which won a Visit London Sports Tourism Award in 2007, already catered for top male Tour de France riders and Olympians, as well as UK Elites. The addition of the women’s race ensures that the Smithfield Nocturne is appealing to ride for all types of racing cyclist.
"Women’s cycle-racing has really exploded in London in the last few years. More and more of us are getting into the sport, encouraged to participate in sportives, on the track, road racing and more recently through events like Rollapaluza,” said Charlotte Easton, a keen racing cyclist who competed as part of a FACE team last year. “Three years ago, there might have been ten of us riding round on a Wednesday night. Now events fill up quickly and the level of competition has really improved.”
An already packed race programme meant that a women’s race would be difficult to include in the schedule, but after increasing interest from female cyclists on the event’s Facebook page, the Nocturne Series included the race in recognition of the growing popularity of women’s road racing.
“Organisers are increasingly willing to give us a chance to compete. That’s why it’s so fantastic that a high profile event like the Nocturne has chosen to host a women’s race. Many of us local girls are looking forward to racing hard on the same stage as the men rather than cheering from the sidelines. We feel that we’re better off on our bikes than behind the barriers!"
The Women’s Criterium starts at 19:40 and is open to Senior and Junior E/1/2/3 category riders and the entry fee is a discounted amount of £20. Entries will close on Monday 25th May.