Leicestershire's top cycle racing team secures entry to UK's premier 1 day international race - CiCLE Classic (held on 27th April 2008)

• CiCLE Classic is the UK's top, one-day, televised, international cycle race taking place on 27th April in north east Leicestershire under rolling closure road conditions and attracts an international field of some 200 riders.
  
  
• The 100 mile race, taking some 4 hours to complete, attracts top riders from around the world and was won last year by former Tour de France rider, and past Tour of Britain winner, Malcolm Elliot.
  
  
• Unlike many premier international races, the event is NOT completely conducted on major roads. After 40 miles the race then moves onto narrow country lanes, some of which have not been maintained and used for over 70 years, before an exciting finish in Melton town centre.
  

www.cyclingbargains.com Racing Team will field a full team of 6 riders including special guest riders skilled in off road riding. The team consists of local Leicestershire rider, Carl Dyson (23) who has already this year secured a string of top places in this country and in results in Spain. Carl will be joined by road and mountain bike rider David Palmer from Northamptonshire and veteran cyclo-cross rider Martin Booth, also from Leicestershire who gained a bronze medal in the 2006 National Cyclo Cross Championships. The team is further strengthened by Martin Eadon, an ex team mate of Booth and a rider also at home on and off road. The team is further complemented by London based riders New Zealander Richard Mason, who rode in Europe in 2006 and Tom Hemmant who until recently held an elite racing licence. Team Manager, Rod Freeman and mechanic Ben Jeeves complete the team line up providing technical support for the team during the race.

Rod Freeman speaking on the announcement of the team line up said, "We are grateful to Race Director Colin Clews for giving us this opportunity. The race has quickly become the UK's top international event and it's good for Leicestershire to be on the map hosting such a prestigious event. We are honoured to be taking part. This is a great motivation to the whole team and a fantastic opportunity to show our sponsors the class of riders we compete with."

The team is sponsored by Leicestershire Internet cycle parts retailer, www.cyclingbargains.com; Leicestershire health spa Champneys Springs; Northampton based renewable energy company, Infinis; local printing company, Mainline Print and Spanish cycle helmet manufacturer, Catlike. Speaking on the support the sponsors have provided for the event the team boss continues, "Cycling Bargains and Infinis have been very supportive with more funding for the team and providing an us with an additional vehicle. Competing at this level of event requires increased communication both on the race and behind the scenes so we are grateful for the funding for additional radios and a team van in addition to our team car."