On the site this week, there’s all the action from the weekend’s Premier MTB Series event at Drumlanrig in Scotland, with photo galleries from the NPS races on the Saturday and the enduro events on the Sunday. As we promised, we’re upping our coverage of off-road action this year and the last three weeks has seen us cover the 4X and dirt Jumping at hornton, the Burnham-on-Sea BMX and Cross-Country at Drumlanrig. The site also has its usual news and updates from the dometic scene in the UK. GO THERE>>>

Plus don’t forget the free classified as service for members – with over thirty new ads a week, it’s a great place to sell you unwanted bikes and bits, or pick up a bargain. Look out for the classifieds button on the homepage. GO THERE>>>

The new format for the national Cross-Country mountain bike series – now known as the Premier Mountain Bike Series and sponsored by Trek – seems to be a real hit with the competitors. The new format sees traditional NPS events for all classes on the Saturday. The Saturday evening then has a new Short-Track competition, open to everyone and working through a series of heats to a final. The course is in the region of 300m long. This is a real crowd pleaser and by the look of the smiles on the faces of the riders, it’s an enjoyable experience for all: it’s great to see Cross-Country riders going shoulder to shoulder like 4-Cross specialists. Sunday then sees another new format, with the Trek 6-4-2 enduro. Using a longer course – in the region of 8-10 miles- than the NPS races, this event is open to all categories from Junior upwards. Riders have the option of starting at 10 for the 6 hour enduro, at 12 noon for the 4 hour enduro and 2 pm for the 2 hour event, with everybody finishing at 4pm. Teams and pairs can also be entered. So far, the enduro has been a great success with two superb courses at Plymouth and Drumlanrig. Many riders tackle the full 6 hours, but the 4 and 2 hour formats are also proving popular. Elite riders have also seen the enduro events as a great opportunity to get in some serious training. The enduro has a completely different atmosphere to the NPS, being more laid back and involving much more team-work, whether it be between riders on the same team or between riders and their support crews. All in all, the weekend now offers great value for money, with three racing opportunities. With enduro racing on the up, the National Series appears to have successfully embraced change – something mountain biking has been doing since it was invented.

WORLD TRACK MASTERS - WEBSITE FULLY UPDATED

The World Track Masters website has been completely updated and now offers an excellent one-stop-shop for riders interested in riding in this increasingly popular event. The site is www.cyclingmasters.com - it includes downloadable entry forms and accommodation booking forms. (Other details are regulations, best times, accommodation and transport details etc). Coming soon are advance spectator ticket details and stories of riders who enter etc.

VACANCY
Regional Talent Coach Maternity Cover £ negotiable Manchester

The World Class Potential and Start Plan funded by Sport England is an integral part of British Cycling’s operations. We now have an opportunity for an experienced coach to join us for a period of up to 12 months, to provide support for identified young riders through a multi-discipline approach to performer development under the direction of a Regional Talent Manager, covering a period of maternity leave. The successful candidate will be able to work within a small team of highly committed professional cycling coaches and will be responsible for the identification and support of talented young cyclists who have the long term potential to move Great Britain forwards as a leading cycling nation by the end of the decade. All of our employees are automatically awarded Gold Membership of British Cycling. Our hours of work are 37.5 per week, although weekend and evening work will be required. Holidays are 20 days per year (pro rata), with membership of the pension scheme offered on completion of 1 year’s service. If you wish to apply, please contact us for an application pack: Tel: 0161 274 2040, email to info@britishcycling.org.uk or by mail to: Corporate Services, British Cycling, National Cycling Centre, Stuart St, Manchester M11 4DQ Closing Date for Applications is Monday 24th May 2004. Interviews will be held week commencing 7th June 2004

CYCLING.TV COVER THE LINCOLN GP

Highlights of the 49th Lincoln International Grand Prix will be available from Thursday 13th May 2004 on the internet TV channel http://cycling.tv. Prendas Ciclismo, http://www.prendas.co.uk, the Poole based internet cycling clothes retailer

agreed to sponsor the television coverage. The highlights will be available free for any user with a high speed internet

connection a PC and a Windows Media Player. Cycling.tv covered the race using 4 Cameras. The programme, 52 minutes long, is presented and commentated upon by Anthony McCrossan.

Every participant in a Bike Week event this June is invited to enter a free prize draw to win an Exodus adventure holiday for two people worth £2,000; a pair of Brompton folding bikes; a limited-edition new Raleigh Chopper; or one of 50 pairs of tickets to the Cycle Show - see www.bikeweek.org.uk for details of local events. Bike Week is the UK's annual nationwide celebration of all kinds of cycling, with many events suitable for novices and families, from short club rides to giant festivals. It includes the Bike2Work campaign for up-to-five-mile commuters to leave their cars at home and pedal to work or education, primarily to improve their fitness and health. GO THERE>>>

NATIONAL YOUTH GRASS TRACK SERIES, WINTERTON
Organiser Julie Benham has been in touch with the news that the above event at Winterton on Saturday 15th May has been cancelled. Only 3 entries were received with a week to go. An omnium will take place for those three riders however the national series has been cancelled.

SERRL will again be running a programme of races in Kent this year. The first race will be on the Benenden/Cranbrook circuit (in Kent) to take place Sunday 23rd May for 3/4/W/J riders only. Headquarters will be at Benenden Village Hall, Benenden Kent. Start time 9.30 am. EOL only for this first race (unless previously entered) £20.00.(£17.00 for registered riders) A programme of ten races is planned, details have been sent to more than 35 clubs/teams in the Kent area. Individual SERRL rider registration packs have also been distributed. For further details contact your club/team.If your club/team is not a member get them to join! A comprehensive race programme will be posted shortly. Contact the SERRL Hotline for details 0208 467 1574 which will be up and running shortly.

EARLIER START FOR EAST YORKSHIRE CLASSIC
Organiser Martin Cockerill has been in touch to let us know that the East Yorkshire Classic Premier Calendar Race (20 June) which was due to start at 10.30am, will now start at 10am due to a clash with another local event.

The Featherstone RC promotion 'The Pete's Race' which was due to take place on Sunday 23 May has been cancelled due to a road closure. Next year the event will return to it's traditional end of May Bank Holiday Monday slot.

GILES REE MEMORIAL ROAD RACE UPDATE
The race HQ has been changed from Handcross Parish Hall, Handcross to the Seaforth Hall in Warninglid. This is in the village of Warninglid, which is on the course, so should be easy for previous entrants to find. However, there is no parking at the hall and parking is not permitted on the course itself. Limited parking will be available in the car park of the church opposite. Otherwise, roadside parking is available on the road running north out of Warninglid to Slaugham ponds (elsewhere in the village it is difficult, and please be considerate to residents). Ample roadside parking is also available at the finish by Staplefield Green, about 3 miles from the HQ.

The Friday Night Track League at Halesowen A&CC, Manor Abbey Stadium, Halesowen is now expected to start on Friday 21st May 2004, and not 7th May as advertised. As many may already know the track at Halesowen is in the process of being resurfaced. The contractors are scheduled to finish by 10th May. However the track will NOT be open for use until approval has been given. The wearing course is being laid now but must NOT be used for riding without at least 7 days between completion and first use. This is to avoid any damage to the surface caused by track bikes with very narrow, hard tyres that would exert high point loadings on the newly laid surface, furthermore it is thought that it will be at least 10 days after the completion of the surface until the re-lining is complete.

Following the promotion of the first round of the BC National Omnium Youth Series, a separate U16 Girls Competition has been created whereby these riders will be classified within their own separate competition as opposed to competing within the boys events.For a copy of the competition regulations contact Paul West on paulwest@britishcycling.org.uk

CASTLE COMBE SUMMER SERIES
Following on from last years succesful inaugral series of six events promoted by Chippenham Wheelers, CS Bristol and Bristol RC the series has expanded to ten events for 2004. The additional clubs getting involved this year are CS Sodbury, Swindon RC and VC Bristol. The format is Youth races beginning at 19:00 hrs with a Handicap event over 51 kms following at 19:30. Entry is on the line only and fixed at £10 for memebrs of BC. The races run every Thursday evening starting tonight May 13th. for ten weeks. Prior to the racing it is intended to run "Go-Ride" activities for younger children with coaches from local clubs co-ordinating activities. Further details can be gained by contacting Andy Cook on (01249) 653845 (h), (01225) 813773 (w), 0781115614 (m) or cookaw@ukonline.co.uk

RACE CALENDAR ADDITIONS, AMENDMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS GO THERE>>>

Please email all news and press releases to the newsletter editor Phil Ingham pressoffice@britishcycling.org.uk.

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In this Issue:

BRITISHCYCLING.ORG.UK

WORLD TRACK MASTERS - WEBSITE FULLY UPDATED

CYCLING.TV COVER THE LINCOLN GP

RACE CALENDAR ADDITIONS, AMENDMENTS AND CANCELLATIONS GO THERE>>>