NOCTURNE SERIES NEWS
Rugby 7s international v Scottish Cycling Olympian
20/05/09
Scottish Olympic and Commonwealth cycling medallist, Craig MacLean, and Scotland 7s internationalist, Hefin O’Hare, competed in a lung-busting test of speed and fitness in Edinburgh’s Grassmarket on Monday 18th May 2009.
The ‘cyclists’ battled it out on a set of Rollapaluza rollers connected to a huge dial over a simulated 500m distance at speeds in excess of 50mph to test the mettle of the Scotsmen ahead of their respective events in the last weekend of May.
Saturday 30th May will see day one of the final leg of the IRB World Sevens Series, the Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s Festival, kick-off at Murrayfield at 9am. Nocturne Series fans are encouraged to make a weekend of it and see the Worlds Sevens, before catching the action at Edinburgh’s Grassmarket to experience the inaugural Edinburgh Nocturne which kicks off at 6pm.
O’Hare said: “Both events offer supporters the best in fast paced sporting action with day one of the 16-team international rugby sevens tournament providing 24 elite matches including the likes of southern-hemisphere giants New Zealand, South Africa, Australia and Fiji who’ll run out against the best in northern-hemisphere rugby; Scotland, England, Wales, France and many more.
“The Edinburgh Nocturne sounds like a fantastic race through the city, all 16 sevens teams stay in the Apex International Hotel which is right on the Grassmarket so I’m sure there’ll be a few players out to watch.”
Olympic silver and Commonwealth gold medallist, MacLean, said: “The Edinburgh Nocturne and Emirates Airline Edinburgh 7s will combine to great effect for an action packed sporting weekend – I’d encourage everyone in the city to go along and cheer on Scotland as they take on the best in the world in each event.
“The Edinburgh Nocturne will take place around an amazing 1.2km circuit through the city’s Grassmarket and guarantees some extreme racing in the heart of Edinburgh.
“The event climax, the Elite Criterium, will feature some of the UK's best pro cyclists who will tear off up Victoria Street onto and along George IV Bridge and take the sharp turn for a fast descent back down into the Grassmarket – I can’t imagine a better setting for two world class events.”