MORE details about one of the region’s most exiting elite cycling events - the East Cleveland Classic - have been released, and there’s fun for all the family.
The free event on Sunday 14 April attracts elite level cyclists but there’s also a packed programme of activities and entertainment including street entertainers, music, urban street games and comic acts.
Community organisations and local schools have also got involved this year including a best dressed village competition and bet shop window.
The race itself will this year pass through Guisborough for the first time and starts and finishes in Saltburn. It will also take in Skelton, Charltons, Boosbeck, Lingdale and Brotton. The women will race four laps totalling 68 miles and the men six laps totalling 100 miles. It starts at 9am for the women and 1.15pm for the men.
Cllr Carrie Richardson, Deputy Leader of Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and Cabinet Member for Climate and Culture, said: “This is one of the biggest events of the calendar and is not only fun for all the family, but a major sporting occasion. It’s also a chance to show off the great beauty of our borough to the nation and the world.”
Andy Langford, Race Director, said: "It is good to be able to bring elite racing to the area. After the success of last year’s National Championships and as a precursor to this year's Championships, it was decided to bring the National Series races back to the area. Both the races have attracted very strong entries, with all riders trying to get hold of the series leaders jersey. My aim is to show East Cleveland across the cycling family as a place to come and ride and give riders from all corners of the country a chance to face the climb of Saltburn Bank, which no doubt will be a focal point. Thanks to the Local Authority and Guisborough Town Council in providing funding to showcase the area."
Sarah Albaladejo, Grants Officer at Tees Valley Community Foundation, said: "It's a pleasure to provide funding support to such high-level, elite sporting activity in this area. It's a great achievement by Redcar and Cleveland Council and we are proud to support them in making this wonderful community event happen."
Below is a list of the day’s entertainments:
Walk- About Acts – Saltburn:
- 10.30am - Apollo Arts Street Band
- 11.15pm – Mister Keith and Lady Kate
- 12pm – Apollo Arts Street Band
- 12.45pm – Mister Keith and Lady Kate
- 1.30pm- Apollo Arts Steet Band
- 3pm - Mister Kieth and Lady Kate
- 10am – 3pm – Urban Street Games with artist Adele Catchpole
Apollo Arts Street Band – Funky 8-piece street band will be bringing the party atmosphere to the streets of Saltburn.
Mr Keith and Lady Kate - This tweed wearing duo will be taking to the street of Saltburn on vintage bikes entertaining the crowds with the tails of the sea.
Adele Catchpole – Urban Street Games
A range of urban street games along the pavements around Saltburn for everybody to enjoy. Join Adele from 11am on Marine Parade to create some of your own street games and street drawings inspired by the East Cleveland Classic.
Cleveland Wheelers – The Pier Carpark Saltburn
Cleveland Wheelers will be running a series of skill sessions which will be conducted throughout the day with a number of obstacles, and coaches to give advice and guidance to riders. The desire is to create an experience which can be both challenging and competitive and is highly visible in a prominent location on the race route. A series of challenges of various levels will be presented to the participants. The emphasis of the sessions will be on steering, control, balance in both fast and low situations.
Whippet Up – The Giant Whippet Up-Cycle
A celebration of cycling and upcycling made with communities from across Redcar and Cleveland. This will be a giant bicycle sculpture that is brightly decorated with a range of recycled materials as well as handmade prints, collage, paintings, drawings all inspired by the East Cleveland Classic.
Saltburn Skate Park – Saltburn
For the East Cleveland Classic, Saltburn Skate Park will be exclusively open to those using bicycles, for the day. Check out amazing professionals as they show off their skills and even have a go yourself. There will be live music and refreshments on site too.
Brotton Brownies and Girl Guides – Brotton
Working with local textile artist Adele Catchpole , Brotton Brownies and Girl Guides have been taking part in a series of workshops to get race ready. The girls have been inspired by the women riders in the East Cleveland Classic and have created some amazing banners and flags ready to cheer them on. Make sure you check them out around Brotton.
Guisborough Arts - Guisborough
A brand-new piece of visual art will be created by local communities in collaboration with Guisborough Arts to celebrate the East Cleveland Classic. This digital tapestry of images will be displayed on the road side for everyone to see and to cheer the cyclist on. People can get involved in the banner creation by sending their cycling themed photography through to Guisborough Arts. Guisborough Arts will also be at Westgate, Guisborough, from 9am on race day, running family workshops where people can design their own masterpiece inspired by the race day itself.
Lockwood Parish Council –Lingdale Village Hall will be open from 9.30am until 4pm with a range of family activities. Slo:Rida will be providing street entertainment from 12pm until 4pm. Find out more at https://www.foolsparadise.co.uk/companies/giddykippers/slorider/
The East Cleveland Classic is funded by Redcar & Cleveland Borough Council and the Tees Valley Combined Authority. It is also supported by the Tees Valley Community Foundation which has funded the activities.
Road closures summary:
To accommodate the start, Glenside in Saltburn will be closed to all traffic from 0600 – 1900, from its junction with Windsor Road to the junction with Albion Terrace. Car parking will also be suspended from 00:01 on Sunday 14 April. Residents and visitors are asked to use other car parking facilities signed around the area.
The races will start at 0900 and finish around 1800 from Glenside, Saltburn and will head towards Skelton, from here the cyclists will join the A173 dropping down Skelton Ellers before climbing up into Guisborough, crossing the A171 and circumnavigating the town via Church Lane, Redcar Road, Bow Street before exiting along the Whitby Road and joining the A171.
Heading along the A171 the race will travel towards Birk Brow before turning left and heading to Boosbeck, climbing up into Lingdale before heading across Kilton Thorpe Lane across to Brotton before heading around to Saltburn which includes the cyclists navigating the steep slopes of the climb.
The race will involve riders cycling along in a peloton – essentially a bubble of police and moto-marshal motorcycles at the front and back. For the safety of competitors, a rolling road closure will be implemented and managed by Community Traffic Management and moto-marshals, under the control of the police.
The rolling closure will mean traffic will be stopped for around 25 minutes to allow the ‘bubble’ to pass through safely. Inevitably, this will cause minor disruption; however, both the traffic management company and the police will aim to get traffic moving as soon as possible and when it is safe to do so.
The below flyer shows road closures for the day of the race, Sunday 14 April: