Shrewsbury Sports Village set for huge cyclo-cross meeting this weekend
Riders aged under six to over 70 will compete at Shrewsbury Sports Village
Almost 500 cyclists will descend on Shrewsbury this Sunday for the second round of the Shimano Lazer West Midlands Cyclo-Cross League.
The event, promoted by Mid Shropshire Wheelers, will see riders aged under six to over 70 tackle the club's cyclo-cross course at Shrewsbury Sports Village.
Local riders will be hoping to build on a strong opening round, with Mid Shropshire Wheelers celebrating three victories.
Copthorne's Rebecca Woodvine won the Elite Women's race, Llanymynech's Jude White took victory in the Under-16 Boys category, while Radbrook's Keith Richards won the Veteran 70+ event.
All three will be looking to repeat their successes on home territory.
The meeting follows the club's successful Friday Night Cyclo-Cross Series, which brought packed fields to the Sports Village during August.
Mid Shropshire Wheelers has promoted cyclo-cross at the venue for more than 20 years. The Sports Village has also hosted the British National Cyclo-Cross Championships twice and will welcome Britain's leading riders again in December for the National Trophy Cyclo-Cross Series.
Event organiser Dave Mellor said: "If you want to see nearly 500 people from five-year-olds to riders in their seventies getting muddy, riding bikes and having enormous fun, Shrewsbury Sports Village is probably the place to be on Sunday!
"We're incredibly proud that Mid Shropshire Wheelers can put on an event of this size in our home town. Hot on the heels of a fantastic Friday Night Series and with the National Trophy coming here in December, there's a real buzz around cyclo-cross in Shrewsbury at the moment.
"The great thing about Sunday is that the stars aren't just the fastest riders. Seeing an Under-6 rider racing with the same determination as an Elite rider – and then watching our over-70s still giving it everything – is what makes cyclo-cross such a special sport. Come along and make some noise; cowbells are optional, but definitely encouraged!"
Cyclo-cross features short laps incorporating grass, banks, technical sections and woodland, with spectators able to see much of the action from around the course.
A team of Mid Shropshire Wheelers volunteers will also spend several days preparing the course before helping to run Sunday's event.
The Round 2 meeting takes place at Shrewsbury Sports Village on Sunday, September 13, with racing throughout the day. Spectators are welcome.