The Velo Club Lincoln Cycling Club presents

THE 53^rd LINCOLN GRAND PRIX

British Cycling Premier Category Cycle Race

PRESS RELEASE - MAY 1ST 2008

Tribute to Brian Cossavella added to Lincoln Grand Prix Special Awards

The Lincoln Grand Prix lost a friend and valuable race official with the sad and untimely death of Brian Cossavella who passed away suddenly on March 1^st. Brian was well known for organising the world masters track championships in Manchester, he also organised many other major events, including the 1996 world track championships, the Cleveland Grand Prix and the 1997 world table tennis championships. Brian has for many years taken on the responsibility as the driver and assistant to the Chief Race official at the Lincoln Grand Prix and a special award has now been established in his memory.

The elegant silver trophy to be known as 'The Brian Cossavella Michaelgate Trophy' will be awarded to the rider gaining the most points on each lap of the Grand Prix as they cross the finish line following the 1 in 6 cobbled climb of Lincoln's Michaelgate with the first three riders being awarded 3, 2 and 1 points.

The competition will have its own prize list with £100 going to the winner, £60 to second place and £40 to third place. The new annual award is being sponsored by Rotherham based Universal Cycle Centre and owner Dave Marsh will make the presentation in Lincoln's Castle Square.

Dave said ' Brian was well known to everybody in the sport and was a regular race official at the Lincoln Grand Prix. He was also a good friend to me and I am pleased to be able to support this special award in his memory'

Another new special competition within the race this year is sponsored by the East Midlands Development Agency who are supporting the Grand Prix under its London 2012 awareness campaign. This £120 award along with the East Midlands British Cycling Trophy will go to the highest placed East Midlands based rider.

Jackson Building Centres continue as the event's main commercial sponsor and will again sponsor the special award of £120 for the 'Most Meritorious Performance'  This was awarded to Wayne Randle last year after a spirited race-long ride at the head of affairs.

The above awards with a total prize of £440 add to the race prize list of £3,000 with the event winner receiving £600 together with the Roy Alan Hart Memorial Trophy.

The race starts from Lincoln's Yarborough Leisure Centre at 10 am on Sunday, May 11th and finishes in Lincoln's Castle Square at 1.30 pm after 11 laps of the 8 mile circuit.

Ends.

References:

www.lincolngrandprix.org.uk

www.universalcyclecentre.co.uk

www.emda.org.uk

www.jacksonbc.co.uk

www.britishcycling.org.uk

PRESS RELEASE - April 22nd 2008

The 53rd Lincoln Grand Prix Cycle Race again brings top class cycle racing to the streets of the City with 175 entries on the programme. Britain's top riders will face the challenge of tough foreign competition with teams and riders from Ireland, The Netherlands, Italy, Germany, Sweden and South Africa amongst the line up for the 86 miles race on Sunday May 11th.

The British teams and individuals represent the very best of the British riders and as always it is difficult to pick a winner. The Downing brothers from Rotherham have been on the podium twice in the last three years, the ever young Malcolm Elliott is back again along with other previous winners, Chris Newton, Mark Lovatt and Kristian House, but will we see a new up and coming name this year from the impressive list of top class riders.

A surprise entry is that of Dave McCann, seven times the Irish national road race champion and home for the weekend from his professional Giant Racing team based in Asia. Dave has ridden the Grand Prix before and is hoping to improve on his previous best placing of 6th. Joining Dave, also from the Giant Asia team is Scotsman Alex Coutts who has a string of impressive foreign performances to his name already this season. Top internationals Rob Hayles and Tom Southam will also be in the line up. Whoever is first to cross the finish line in Castle Square will count The Lincoln Grand Prix as one of their best victories.

After the euphoria of winning all those gold medals on the track it is now the season for the road riders to show their ability to cover the difficult 8 mile circuit of very mixed terrain in under 20 minutes, an average speed of around 25 mph and a total time for the 86 miles of 3 hours 30 minutes. Considering that this includes the cobbles of 1 in 6 Michaelgate and Castle Square, the winding roads through Burton Village and the gradual ascent along Long Leys Road, this is no mean feat.

It is of course Olympic year with all eyes turning east to Beijing in August. We can then look forward to London 2012 with the Grand Prix already well positioned with the East Midlands Development Agency supporting the race as part of its 2012 awareness programme in Lincolnshire.

Back in Lincoln for the fifth time is Cycling.TV who will again be recording the Grand Prix for showing both on their web site www.cycling.tv and on Eurosport television. Last years Eurosport coverage was excellent with great views of the City as the race progressed around the circuit, despite the constant rain. Full marks also go to the huge crowd of spectators who braved the poor conditions to witness a great event and a great win by Rotherham's Dean Dowing to add to that of his brother Russell in 2005.

The race starts from the Yarborough Leisure Centre at 10 am and covers 11 laps of the circuit before finishing in Castle Square at around 1.30 pm where the winners will be presented with their awards to the applause of the large and enthusiastic crowd. The 8 mile circuit takes the riders out of Lincoln, through Burton Village and its twisting tricky descent to the A57 and back towards Lincoln via Long Leys Road and West Parade before the difficult climb of Michaelgate to Castle Square. The course includes Lincoln's tourist areas along Bailgate and passes through Newport Arch, Lincoln's 3rd century Roman Gateway and one of the few remaining examples of Roman architecture which is still open to traffic, but not on Sunday May 11th when the roads are closed for the safety of the riders in this classic race.

The Lincoln Grand Prix would not be possible without the support of its sponsors, councils, police, officials, marshals, mechanics, press and the co-operation of the householders and businesses on the circuit. These vital ingredients come together each year to make the Grand Prix Britain’s favourite one day cycle race.

Race Sponsors are Lincoln City Council, Jackson Building Centres, East Midlands Development Agency, Lincolnshire County Council, Lincolnshire Sports Partnership, British Cycling, Rick Hall Construction, Kingston Communications, NatWest Bank, Chattertons Solicitors, PKF Accountants, Impsport, Lincolnshire Co-operative, Holland Brothers Jaguar, Marshall Land Rover, C-Shop and James Oliver Conservatories.

PRESS RELEASE – April 9^th 2008

The East Midlands Development Agency (emda) has added its strong support to the Annual Lincoln Grand Prix Cycle Race, due to take place this year on Sunday, May 11^th.

emda joins with Lincoln City Council and Jackson Building Centres as the major sponsors of this high profile and popular event which brings top class international racing to the historic streets of the City. emda is leading on the regional strategy to maximise the benefits of the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Games. The aim of the strategy is to engage a new generation in sport, the arts and learning and welcome teams and visitors from across the world to the East Midlands.

Tracy Croft, East Midlands Coordinator for the 2012 Games said, “emda is delighted to sponsor the Lincoln Grand Prix. The race allows the people of the East Midlands the opportunity to experience the thrill of elite sport right on their doorstep. The Grand Prix showcases Lincoln’s finest tourist attractions and receives excellent media coverage across Europe helping to raise the profile of the East Midlands.”

The 2008 race starts from the Yarborough Leisure Centre at 10 am and completes 11 laps of the 8 mile circuit in and around the City centre before finishing at 1.30 pm in Lincoln’s Castle Square. The circuit includes the cobbled 1 in 6 climb of Michaelgate each lap.

A strong field of around 150 riders is expected to take part in the 86 mile race and foreign entries already include riders from Holland, Ireland, Sweden, Germany and Italy. They will face strong home based competition from the best of the British riders, many of whom are challenging for places on the team for the forthcoming Olympic Games in Beijing.

emda has also sponsored a new award in the race for the best placed rider from the East Midlands.

Release ends.

SUNDAY MAY 11^th 2008

Race Organiser: Ian Emmerson OBE,

5 Larkin Avenue, Cherry Willingham, Lincoln LN3 4AZ

Telephone: 01522 750000 Fax: 01522 850754 Mobile: 07785 347174

e-mail: lincolngrandprix@ntlworld.com

web site www.lincolngrandprix.org.uk

The 53^rd Annual Lincoln Grand Prix Cycle Race is scheduled for Sunday, May 11^th when around 150 of the country’s best cyclists face international competition from around the world. The start for the 2008 race has been brought forward to 10 am which will give a lunch time finish in Castle Square at around 1.30 pm.

This race is now seen as the country’s classic one day event and showcases the sport with its racing circuit passing through Lincoln’s tourist areas on each lap with the finish taking place in the shadow of Lincoln Castle and Cathedral.

The race brings many spectators to the City for the day to enjoy the ambience of the area and spend the time between laps in the local restaurants and shops. Local hoteliers also feel the benefit with many of the home based riders, foreign teams, race officials and spectators accommodated in the City overnight.

The event has now enjoyed excellent coverage on Eurosport television for the past four years with a 30 minute programme being broadcasted following the event and repeated several times. This film has always shown the tourist aspect of the City as well as concentrating on the race itself and is an excellent advertisement for Lincoln.

The race receives full support from Lincoln City Council with assistance from Lincolnshire County Council. Additionally, major sponsorship and support comes from Jackson Building Centres, Rick Hall Construction, Kingston Communications, Lincolnshire Sports Partnership, PKF Accountants, NatWest Bank, Chattertons Solicitors, Lincolnshire Co-Operative, Impsport, James Oliver Conservatories and British Cycling. Official vehicles are provided by Marshall Land Rover and Holland Brothers Jaguar to add to the spectacle as the race travels around the circuit.

VIP hospitality is located within the Magna Carta pub where sponsors and guests can enjoy some lunch time refreshment and see the race go by from its upper floor windows.

The race start and headquarters is based at the Yarborough Sports Centre where final preparations are made and police and marshal briefings carried out to ensure the safety of the competitors, spectators and public road users.

There are many other ingredients supplied by local companies including Bates Sound for the Race Radios and Public Address, Traffic Management Services for the route signage and traffic diversions, Systematic Print for the full colour programme and Lincolnshire Police for assistance and traffic control. These ingredients all blend together on the day to bring both a cycling spectacle and valuable publicity to Lincoln.

The race also has its own web site www.lincolngrandprix.org.uk which carries a history of the race and many other items of interest.