CAVENDISH STARS IN SATURDAY NIGHT'S NEWPORT NOCTURNE

Mark Cavendish Eneco 2007
(Image credit: ISOSPORT)
By
published

THE hottest British bike riders of the year star in Saturday night?s Newport Nocturne in Shropshire, the biggest, most spectacular bi-annual town centre bike race in the UK before an expected 14,000 crowd.

The spotlight, more correctly, floodlights because this is the only floodlit race in the country - will be on T-Mobile Sprint revelation Mark Cavendish (pictured), fresh from his points victory in this week?s Tour of Benelux, triple Olympic medallist Bradley Wiggins (Cofidis), hero of that 100-mile lone break in the Tour de France, Geraint Thomas (Barloworld) at 21 one of the youngest to ride this year?s Tour, and David Millar (Saunier Duval), second overall in the Tour of Benelux.

The four will ride the one-lap challenge 'Battle for Beijing'. This will be more a sprint than a time trial, on the one-mile circuit, and is pitched at the Olympic hopefuls. Also riding is former Madison world champion Rob Hayles and local hero, Simon Holt.

Following this, all of them will then ride the Elite Circuit Race Series worth £500 to the winner. This features last year?s winner, Chris Newton (Recycling.co.uk). The 63-man field includes most of the best home riders with some the criterium specialists in there eager to take on Cannonball Cavendish, tipped as future Classic and Tour de France star.

DUIGNAN PHELPS OPTOMETRISTS PAST MASTERS' RACE

DAVIES AND JEGGO MOTORS "BATTLE FOR BEIJING"ONE-LAP CHALLENGE

Battle for Beijing riders will be started from a ramp and timed from the top of St Mary Street to the finish line. Each rider will be accompanied his own special "team car."

1 £500

2 £375

3 £300

4 £212.50

5 £175

6 £150

7 £175

8 £100

9 £87.50

10 £75,

11 £62.50

12-14 £50

15-17 £37.50

18-20 £25

In reverse order, the third place and second place riders will receive their bouquets by Sally's Flowers.

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