http://www.britishcycling.org.uk this week includes A cracking (and very funny) piece Tom Southam as he heads to Italy to begin his pro career with Amore e Vita. There’s also a feature on the GB Sprint squad as they begin their build up to the Athens Olympics. And of course there’s all the usual news, results, classifieds and photo galleries. GO THERE >>>

Please remember that all full racing licences expired on 31/12/03, regardless of when your membership is valid to. This applies to Under 12 and Youth riders as well as senior riders. For Youth and Under 12 riders requiring a free 2004 licence they will need to have valid membership for the whole of 2004, so please get in contact with membership services for an application form. Membership/licence renewal letters are sent a month before your membership expires, so you will need to contact membership services if you require your racing licence before this. Mailto:membership@britishcycling.org.uk . GO THERE >>>

3 OLYMPIC CHAMPIONS TO RACE AT REVOLUTION 3

The foreign challengers are now confirmed for Revolution 3 (on Saturday Feb 28^th Manchester Velodrome at 7pm) with a trio of French stars taking the trip across the water to take on our British boys. Reigning Olympic Team Sprint Champions Arnaud Tournant and Florian Rousseau will be joining forces with French prodigy Gregory Bauge making for a clash of the titans in the team sprint competition.

Tournant's track record speaks for itself with multiple World titles in the Kilo and Sprint and the world record in the Kilo (an amazing sub one-minute ride at altitude). Rousseau's credentials are equally as impressive with the Olympic Keirin Champion title to his name on top of the Team Sprint title. The final member of the French squad, Gregory Bauge is more of an unknown quantity but certainly won't be their Achilles Heel. At 19 Bauge already has two Junior World Track titles to his name and is strongly tipped by the French Cycling Federation to be the next Tournant.

So the scene is set for a showdown between the French and British Sprint squads with the British eager to test the water ahead of the Olympics, "We need to try and take a look at as many different options throughout this season as possible in racing opportunities so I think we'll be using 'Revolution 3' as an opportunity to test the team sprint against the French" commented British Sprint Coach Iain Dyer.

For further information on the race programme and riders attending please visit http://www.cyclingrevolution.com or call the information line on 0700 594 2579. Tickets are available in advance or can be purchased on the night from the Velodrome box office.

PRIME COACHING GO TO NEWPORT

Prime Coaching is running a Newport training event - A bRacing Tonic, it's racing rather than skills based. It's on Sunday 7th March 12.00-16.00. £10 Adults £3 Youths. There will be Women only events. To book a place please contact Keith Elliot mailto:keith.elliot@bt.com or 07802 868158. (Hire bikes are available from the Velodrome on a first come first served basis @ £6. Personal tip - bring your own chair!).

OFF-ROAD NEWS

It's coming up to the indoor season for BMX real soon.....well, one event in the UK and one in France is not quite enough for some. The Tours indoor race is looking like a sell out event, with 74 British riders making the trip to France in 2 weeks time. If you want to see more indoor races in the UK, then Rik Forte is setting the pace.

Rik's first event will take place on Saturday the 6th of March at the Weston Super-Mare arena. Expect light shows, a great sound system, a new racing format, Pro riders from Europe and the US, dirt jumping featuring some of the UK's top riders and a whole evening of activities taking you through to 10.00pm. Riders need to pre-register for this event, so download an entry form from http://www.bmx40.com GO THERE >>>

Sunday the 7th of March will be the first round of the Tomac National 4X series at the same Weston Super-Mare venue. Details for this event will be posted on http://www.nps4x.com Entry forms are available now and information will be with the 2003 competitors by the weekend.

BMX

The UK BMX scene is witnessing a return to high attendance competitive winter racing this year. Expect the recently revamped track at Hayes to get their race on this Sunday. Registration will be 11.00am until Midday, with racing commencing at 12.30.

Unfortunately, the scheduled opening race at Doncaster has been shelved until the correct planning permission is granted. Don't let this stop you riding what is one of the best tracks in the UK.

Feb 15th Round 6 Doncaster (Cancelled) (Hexthorpe Park, Greenfield Lane, Doncaster)

The weekend before the Tours Indoor race sees 2 events taking place. Royston are hosting a round of the East Anglia winter series, while Coppull are hosting a round of their popular Mid Lancs winter series.

MTB

There's no MTB racing this weekend, but the Midlands Downhill series is taking place on the following weekend. Race entries are full, so expect a full day of racing on this national standard course.

NPS CORSS-COUNTRY AND ENDURO DATES/VENUES FINALISED

The full series dates and venues for the all new NPS XC and Trek 6,4,2 Enduro series have been announced. Enquiries about this new series have passed all expectations, due to the new format, new venues, new promoters and increased media attention. Entry forms will be available by the end of the week on http://www.britishcycling.org.uk and http://www.inevent.co.uk

British Cycling will be sanctioning the following Endurance events. The Bucks 100km Off Road Classic and the Cheddar Everest Challenge, which are both non competitive events. The Clic 24 has reclassified as competitive race for 2004. For a full list of BC sanctioned Endurance events, check out the MTB Events section on http://www.britishcycling.org.uk GO THERE >>>

EVENT UPDATE
Ed Taylor Memorial RR (14th March 2004) – address correction (Sudbury and postcode):

British Cycling will be hosting a number of meetings locally for anyone who would like to know more about the Go-Ride programme. The invitation is open to divisional officials, club representatives, sports development officers, coaches, parents and volunteers and will focus on explaining what the Go-Ride programme includes, the importance of club development and what training and support is available at a local level. If you would like more details, please contact your Regional Coaching & Club Development Officer. The next meeting will be held at: Exeter - 28th February 2004 GO THERE >>>

MANCHESTER WORLD CUP TICKETS

Tickets for the Track World Cup, Manchester Velodrome 9-11 April, are now available by calling 0871 230 2621 or at www.worldtrackcycling.com GO THERE >>>

DISABILITY CYCLING NEWSLETTER
The latest British Cycling newsletter for disability cyclists is now online at the address below – it includes details of the 2004 calendar of events.

COMMISSAIRE/REFEREE NEWSLETTER
The latest British Cycling newsletter for race officials is now online at the address below.

COACHES - UPGRADE TO VELODROME COACH

A comprehensive two day course for Level 2 coaches who wish to be qualified as a Velodrome coach, essential if you are to coach at Manchester or Newport, is to be run at Manchester on March 6th/7th commencing at 10am. Cost is £50 including luncheon and the course covers track safety, track protocols, training techniques and rider accreditation. Contact Andrea mailto:tdo@manchestervelodrome.com ASAP

PRE-SEASON TRAINING FOR ASTLEY & TYLDESLEY CYCLE SPEEDWAY CLUB

Astley & Tyldesley Cycle Speedway Club begin their pre-season training sessions this Sunday (15th February) at the Gin Pit circuit, starting at 2 pm. The CTA Direct sponsored outfit will be training on track every Sunday until the opening match on 28th March. A & T will also be running training sessions every Tuesday night, starting at 7 pm, from 17th February onwards, under the Gin Pit floodlights. All riders are welcome to attend, especially newcomers. Clubs are also welcome to take advantage of the excellent facilities at the North's Regional Centre, although for clubs, schools and groups, it is necessary to pre-book a session. Already British Cycling's North West Talent Team have booked nine sessions this year, and the facilities were popular with several other groups last year. Track access and equipment hire charges are £2 per rider per session. The circuit is located at the Astley & Tyldesley Miners' Welfare Club, Meanley Road, Gin Pit, Astley, Gt. Manchester. M29 7DW. Anybody requiring further information should contact Mike Hack, by phone on 01942 515341, by e-mail at mailto:m.hack@blueyonder.co.uk or visit the club's website at http://www.astleycyclespeedway.org.uk GO THERE >>>

TOP RIDER/SPONSORS WANTED TO SUPPORT CHARITY RIDE

Charity ride organiser Dan Cave is appealing for current, ex pro cyclists and commercial sponsors to back his attempt to raise £10,000 for Cancer Research UK. Dan decided to ride 100 miles from Poole in Dorset and posted his plans on the Cycling Plus website at http://www.cyclingplus.co.uk Other Cycling Plus readers said they¹d like to join him and now 12 riders, including journalist & sports coach Joe Beer, will set off on April 25.

Dan said: "People on the website started saying that they wanted to come along, which is great. But I want to keep the numbers fairly low to keep the organisation straight forward. What I really need is for a well-known rider to join us and for a number of commercial sponsors to back the ride & Jerseys featured on the sponsors page of the site.

Dan decided to raise money for Cancer Research UK following the death of his grandmother from the disease in December 2002. Anyone interested in supporting the ride can find more details at http://www.rideforcancer.co.uk GO THERE >>>

BRITISH CYCLING STATEMENT 11/02/04

The Board of British Cycling is aware that a press release has been issued by the Cyclo-Cross Commission concerning the recent World Cyclo-Cross Championships. A meeting will be held with members of the Commission as soon as possible.

The Board of British Cycling confirms its support for the sport of Cyclo-Cross and that it would like to help the Commission to continue to develop and improve the standing of this discipline nationally and internationally.

No further statement will be made on this matter until after the meeting has been held.

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