British teams invited en masse to home Tour

BRITISH TEAMS INVITED EN MASSE TO HOME TOUR

There will be six British-registered teams in this year's Tour of Britain, led by the ProTour level Sky team.

The race, which starts on September 11 in Rochdale, will see also see all five British UCI Continental-registered teams taking part.

Endura, Rapha Condor Sharp, Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta, Sigma Sport Specialized and Raleigh have all been awarded places for the eight-day race.

The Tour of Britain organisers received some 38 applications for spaces in this year's event in what is billed as "a much tougher route this year".

There are spaces left for just two more teams in this year's event, although technical director Mick Bennett, stressed that they did not want to "take any more ProTour teams".

National champ Kristian House will be back with a bevy of Brits in this year's race

SKY'S WISH IS NOT ITS COMMAND FOR TOUR OF BRITAIN

Due to logistical demands on the Tour of Britain, it makes it hard for the race organisers to put on a time trial. To close a town or city for a whole day for a time trial creates problems with policing, for example.

Sky, however, was keen for the race organisers to include one in this year's route.

Race technical director Mick Bennett revealed at the race launch in Covent Garden yesterday that Sky had requested a time trial "for one of their riders".

"It's certainly not me!" Russell Downing quipped at the press conference.

A time trial would have suited Edvald Boasson Hagen down to the ground; the man who won four stages and the overall last year with such apparent ease.

It would also have suited Britain's own Bradley Wiggins. Wiggins commented on his Twitter feed: "no TT again in race around Britain, looks like a race for the sprinters again, looks like Vuelta this year then".

This comment was followed several hours later with: "Had a good chat with Shane Sutton last night, looks like I will ride TOB now!"

RALEIGH GIVEN SLOT IN CICLE CLASSIC

Despite Raleigh's best efforts to get to the Tour of Mexico last week, the team was left stranded thanks to the volcanic ash cloud that wreaked havoc for thousands of travellers.

The team had resigned itself to doing local races until Colin Clews stepped in and gave the team a last-minute entry to this year's CiCLE Classic at the weekend.

OVER 1000 ENTRIES ALREADY FOR CORNWALL TOR

Over 1,000 entries have been received so far for this year's Cornwall Tor on May 16 and entries are still open.

The Cornwall Tor is the second UCI-sanctioned sportive on the UK calendar and it encompasses miles of Cornwall's beautiful scenery.

The event includes the impossibly steep Millook climb as the route skirts along the Atalantic coastline.

One of the steepest climbs in Britain, the Millook has an average gradient of 30% and is steeper in parts.

See here for a preview of the climb: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vfwaqQrgfDY

Entries are still open. See: www.kilotogo.com for more details.

BUMPER PRIZE FUND FOR ROLLAPALUZA TRACK MEETS

Rollapaluza may be more renowned for its frantic roller racing, but it is now organising a series of track meets at Herne Hill throughout the summer on the first Saturday of each month.

The series, which kicks off on May 1, boasts a staggering £500 in prize fund per meeting!

Sprint and endurance events are on offer for juniors and seniors.

See www.rollapaluza.cc

BREAKING AWAY ON DVD

Peter Yates' cult classic cycling film, Breaking Away, will become available on DVD for the first time on June 28.

The film, which regales the story of a young American dreaming of becoming a professional cyclist, won a BAFTA and a Golden Globe award upon its release in 1979.

BROMPTON RECOGNISED IN QUEEN'S BIRTHDAY HONOURS LIST

Folding bicycle manufacturer Brompton has been recognised in the Queen's Birthday Honours list with a Queen's Award for Enterprise and an award in the International Trade category.

It is the second time Brompton has received an award in the international trade category, recognition in part of its increase in export revenues by some 184% in the past six years.

"All of us at Brompton are immensely proud and honoured by the recognition of the Queen's Awards for Enterprise in both the International Trade and Innovation categories," commented company MD, Will Butler-Adams.

"Our aims today remain the same as they ever were: to make great folding bikes that do everything and more that is asked of them, made here in London and enjoyed the world over." 

FOREST OF DEAN SPRING CLASSIC SPORTIVE GETS NEW SPONSORSHIP

The Forest of Dean Spring Classic, now in its fifth year and already one of the more established dates on the British sportive calendar, has recently secured sponsorship from German bike brand, Rose Bikes.

The sponsorship is good news for entrants as it has helped the organisers to improve on the event with extra facilities at the start/finish, indoor feed stops with toilets on the route, electronic timing, NEG outriders on the course, and free food before and after for all entrants.

Event organiser, Graham Temple commented: "We have taken on board all the comments from last year's participants and used the sponsorship to improve the overall experience of the event."

COSMIC 3 CROWNED BIKE POLO KINGS

Cosmic 3 were crowned UK bike polo champions last weekend in an epic contest with the Rotten Apples at the Levenshulme roller hockey court in Manchester.

Cosmic 3 stole an advantage in the final 45 seconds of the match to sneak ahead to win 4-3.

Blood, sweat and beers for the Cosmic boys