BIG FISH LITTLE POND? NOT THE MEAN MACHINE

4 Certini Riders will be travelling to Wales for the Tour of Wales in June. They are




James Smith


Gary Andrews


Jason Flooks


Rob Willcocks




Willcocks said " the team is really strong and we are hoping to make an impact."




Willcocks was also confident about the Team Time Trial " I think we can take this stage we are so used to riding together and with good testers like James and Andrews we should do well".




story from www.britishcycling.org.uk



Cyclists from as far away as New Zealand are heading towards Newport to participate in the Lifeforce Ras de Cymru cycle race, which will take place from 27th June – 1st July 2007. The race, which pits riders against some of the toughest roads in South Wales, is being organised by the University of Wales, Newport in partnership with Lifeforce, the world’s first immune system bank.

“This year cycling superstar, Nicole Cooke, who is the World Number One ranked rider, has entered the race with her strong Lifeforce-Creation HB team,” said Simon Bray, Head of Events Services at the University and twice former British National Road Race Champion.

Simon continued, “A string of successes put Nicole (pictured left) top of the UCI World rankings and she won the season long World Cup for the second time last year. On a rare sabbatical from her continental duties, Nicole along with her team is expected to give local cyclists from Cardiff, Abergavenny and Risca a harsh lesson in the tactics of continental bike racing.

Local riders likely to be in the frame for victory are Steve Thomas from Abergavenny and Gareth Pugh from Risca. The race attracts riders from all over the UK, including South East England, Scotland, the Midlands and East Anglia as well as Germany and New Zealand.” The event is open to 20 teams of four riders who will compete in six stages of the race over five days.

“With a total prize fund of £100,000 up for grabs this year entries are flooding in – which is great news for the event, as it enables me to ensure only the best teams are selected for the race,” Simon added.

Most of the riders will be staying at the ‘Race Village’ at the University’s Caerleon Campus for the duration of the event, where they will experience the buzz of living as professional riders would over the five days, whilst enjoying the excellent catering and accommodation facilities at the University.

Stages of the race will be based at Abergavenny, Caerleon, Brecon and Merthyr Tydfil and at the end of the five days of racing the overall winner will be the rider who covers the total race distance in the shortest time. A winning team will also be established and a King of the Hills and Sprints from the riders with the highest number of points gained at intermediate points in each stage.

Former cycle champ Simon Bray promotes several successful cycling events at the University each year - including the annual Duathlon in April - which draws in competitors from all over the UK and a new Cyclosportive which is due to be promoted on 2 September 2007.

The University of Wales, Newport also offers an innovative Sports Studies degree course which enables students to develop an area of expertise in areas such as coaching in order to open the door to an exciting career in the ever-expanding sport and exercise industry.

For further information on the race telephone 01633 432202 or visit the sports centre webpage at the University of Wales, Newport: /displayPage.aspx?object_id=1677&type=PAG

The Ras de Cymru consists of six stages over the five days:

Stage 1 (15:45pm, 27 June 2007) 4.1 miles – Llangybi - Caerleon - Llanhennock - Rolling prologue time trial with climb to finish

Stage 2 (10:00am, 28 June 2007) 46.2 miles – Abergavenny – Newcastle – Rockfield – Abergavenny Hilly road race

Stage 3 (15:30pm, 28 June 2007)15 miles (Abergavenny – Raglan – Abergavenny) Flat team time trial

Stage 4 (10:00am, 29 June 2007) 58 miles (Caerleon – Usk – Raglan – Abergavenny – Usk) Flat road race

Stage 5 (10:30am, 30 June 2007) 68 miles (Storey Arms – Brecon – Dyfennog - Brecon – Dyfennog) Hilly road race

Stage 6 (10:30am, 1 July 2007) 56 miles (Abergavenny – Brecon – Talybont – Llangynidr) Flat road race with mountain top finish