The Archer Grand Prix cycle race in the Chilterns has included Olympic and World
Champions in its line ups over its 51 years and in 2007, its 52nd, top club cyclists
and the hugely growing band of individual enthusiasts will be able to enter their
own version – The Archer GP Chiltern Classic Sportive on Sunday, 5th August.
It is hoped that a number of past winners of the Archer GP will return to take
part in this Sportive version.
This does not replace the classic race itself which will be held on Sunday, 15th
April, its traditional time of the year and expected to have its usual top level
international field.
Although the exact route yet to be finalised, the Archer GP Chiltern Classic Sportive
will be a similar distance to the race, probably about 110 miles, and will take
in many of the Chiltern hills raced in the variations of the circuit over the
half century. As a sportive is not a race and the participants are subject
to normal road regulations, it is practical to return to hills once used by the
race but later excluded because of perceived impracticalities of linking them
with race-safe circuits.
Long-term member of the Archer club, Graham Temple is the organiser of the Archer
GP Sportive and brings the experience of having organised the successful Forest
of Dean Sportive in 2006 and scheduled for 6th May this year. He aims to lead
the team that put on that event, supplemented by officials from the main Archer
GP, for which he has been organiser of the finish area for many years.
Graham says: “Undoubtedly this will be a tough one, but has been placed in
the middle of the year when riders will have had most of the summer to prepare.
For the very serious ones who have taken part in L’Etape of the Tour de France,
they are sometimes left wondering how to use the fitness achieved. Now they can
take part in Britain’s own real challenge ride three weeks later and still
be at their best.
“For the less ambitious,” adds Graham, “we will be putting on a
much shorter and less demanding version and will be looking to work with Cycling
Aylesbury of Bucks County Council to sustain their efforts to encourage cycling
by everybody. Theirs is a demonstration town in the Cycling England initiative
and it is apt that their programme was officially launched last year by Olympic
Gold Medallist Chris Boardman who rode the Archer GP on his way to the top, coming
fifth as it happens.”
Long-term organiser of the Archer GP race, Stuart Benstead, says: “We are
aiming to make this the foremost Sportive in Britain to match the top ranking
of the race itself. We are fortunate to have Graham Temple’s specialist experience
to draw upon to lead our long standing professional standard event organisation
to provide a real challenge in the beautiful Chiltern Hills that have provided
the setting for our events for 52 years.”
Contact
Entries will be limited to 500 at £20 payable to - Wheels in Wheels CC,
c/o 19 Windsor Close, St Ives, Cambs PE17 6DW. |
A-M 
