8,000 cyclists take part in the UK's Tour of Cambridgeshire UCI Gran Fondo
The UCI Gran Fondo World Series Tour of Cambridgeshire was the 2016 UK qualifier for the UCI World Amateur Road Championships to be held in Perth, Australia later this year
Cambridgeshire, United Kingdioom, June 7th - Organisers were thrilled with the success of the second edition of the Tour of Cambridgeshire.
Almost 800 riders took part in a time trial on a circuit around Peterborough, while nearly 8,000 cyclists got involved in a 129km 'gran fondo' road race, on a route that featured Alconbury, Woodwalton, Great Raveley and Upwood.
All the action took place on closed roads, allowing amateur riders to experience what it is like for their professional counterparts.
And with places up for grabs in the World Amateur Road Championships in Australia later this year, there were plenty of competitors from abroad taking part as well.
Tom Caldwell, from organisers Very Cool Sports Company, felt the Tour had proved to be an even bigger hit than the inaugural event last year.
He said: "I'm really pleased with how it went. The weather was fantastic and we had some great crowds on the side of the roads in all the villages on the course.
"It made it a real spectacle and the riders commented on what a great time they'd had and the support from all the people in the local community.
"Many riders said it was brilliant and that they wanted to come back next year."
Caldwell said it was the element of being able to ride on closed roads that ensured many cyclists would return for another go.
He said: "It's a proper road race and it's one of the top events of its type on the world (the Tour forms part of the 16-event UCI Gran Fondo World Series).
"We had some people from the world governing body for cycling, the UCI, and they were very pleased with what they'd seen.
"It means we can continue to upgrade the event in the future and make it even bigger."
The Tour has a contract to run until 2019 and Caldwell said while the event will stick with the format that has proved a hit so far, they may look at altering the route to include different parts of the county in future years.
Gran Fondo Results - http://www.tourofcambridgeshire.com/pdf_downloads/TOC_Gran_Fondo_Results_-_Chip_Time_and_Qualification2016.pdf
Leisure Results - http://www.tourofcambridgeshire.com/pdf_downloads/ToC_Leisure_Chip_Time_2016.pdf
Official Photos from Sporograf - http://www.sportograf.com/en/shop/event/3369-The-Tour-of-Cambridgeshire-2016
