Monday Oct 17, 2005

This year's Cycle Show was even bigger and better than ever before with almost 20% more people passing through the doors.

Almost 130 bike brands rolled out their latest ranges giving cycling enthusiasts the chance to see all the most up to date merchandise before it hits the shops in 2006. And visitors were treated to a show packed full of fantastic features including the Tri-UK celebrity sports star duathlon, the Cycle Circuit Race and the Onza international trials competition.

Ten sports stars, including athletes Iwan Thomas and Katharine Merry took to the turbo trainers for a 5K bike - 2K run duathlon on Friday 14th October. Competition was rife as the sportsmen and women battled it out to rein supreme at the show.

Track athlete Iwan Thomas won the men's competition in 16.23mins, 1.40min ahead of Recycling team cyclist Robin Sharman who came in second. Retired Olympic cyclist Brian Steel was third in 21.44mins and Wasps rugby star Phil Greening, who had just announced his retirement, was fourth in 23.38mins.

Iwan was so excited by his win that he was even considering a switch in sports - from the athletics track to the cycling track. He said: "I wasn't feeling my best before the race and I was a bit worried about the competition but it went really well.

"My quads were like jelly between the treadmill and the bike but I loved the cycling. I'd love to have a go on a track and if anyone from British Cycling is reading this they should give me a call."

The women's race kicked off soon after with six stars taking to the saddles including track athlete Katharine Merry, GB rowers Debbie Flood, Lorna Norris and Laura Gater, England cricket players Claire Taylor and Clare Taylor and 24hr mountain bike champion Jenn O'Connor.

The two cricketers took part as a team as recently retired Clare Taylor had ruptured a pec muscle. Debbie took first place in a time of 19.29mins with Claire and Clare taking second with 19.47mins. Laura was third in 20.57mins and Jenn O'Connor fourth with 21.15mins.

Unfortunately Katharine had to retire due to a calf injury and Lorna Norris turned in before finishing after an earlier illness left her feeling weak. Debbie was delighted with her win. She said: "It was great fun and really good to race with other athletes. I had been training for the Henley 10k which I did last week - it nearly killed me though.

Visitors to the show also crowded outside of the exhibition centre for the Cycle Circuit Race on Sunday 16th October.
Over forty elite amateur cyclists from across the country competed for a £1,500 prize purse.

Cyclists came from as far a field as Nottingham, Bristol and Derbyshire to take part in the race organised by the Surrey Cycle Racing League with the help of the London Phoenix Cycling Club.

Karl Freeman of VC Pontivy, Warrick Spence of London Dynamo and Martin Smith of Team Milton Keynes were soon clear of the group when the race began. The three hung onto their lead, with never more than a few seconds between them, until 200 metres before the finish when Smith's chain broke.

Smith had to freewheel over the line in third place with Freeman taking first and Spence second. James Taylor from Sportscoaching.com was fourth, Vincent Hepburn from A W Cycles.co.uk took fifth and sixth place went to Ian Holt of Viner Bikes.

Organiser Keith Butler said: "The ExCeL Cycle 2005 Criterium Race was another great opportunity for the top amateurs to race in front of the public and against other elite riders."

"The crowds really give the riders a lift and make the event even more exciting. I'd like to see more of these events across the country."

Bike brand Onza built an indoor and outdoor trials course using 50 tons of concrete, timber and steel and welcomed 22 of the world's greatest trials riders to compete for a £3K prize purse throughout the show.

After some hair-raising stunts that evoked gasps from the crowds, Danny Comas and Cesse Canas from the Monty Factory Spanish Team took the trophy. Team Onza's Danny Butler and Ben Slinger from the UK took second place and Onza's Thomas Ohler from Austria and Walter Belli from Italy were third.

This year ExCeL played host for the first time, after the show outgrew its original venue at the Business Design Centre, Islington. The new venue offered the extra space required for exhibitors and interactive indoor and outdoor features.

The show featured a Transport for London city test track where visitors could try out some of the best bikes on offer.

And there was an all action fashion dance display, a pro-cycling cinema with exclusive film previews and Q&A sessions with Eurosport's David Duffield, visitor duathlons - offering visitors a complete cycling experience.

For more information on the Cycle Show visit www.cycleshow.co.uk

For more information please contact Jane Upton on 0115 9161615 or jane.upton@perfectmotion.org

The Cycle Show took place on 13th - 16th October
Pictures are available on request