Entries for the 2011 Northern Rock Cyclone Challenge open on Sunday October 31 at www.northernrockcyclone.co.uk.

Next year’s event takes place on Saturday June 25 as part of the Northern Rock Cyclone weekend of riding and racing.

For the first time ever, it is being held alongside the men’s and women’s National Elite Road Race Championships on Sunday June 26. The weekend kicks off with the Leazes Criterium races in Newcastle’s Leazes Park on the evening of Friday 24 June.

The Northern Rock Cyclone Challenge features three levels of ride – 33, 63 and 104 miles – and is part of the UCI Golden Wheel series. The longer two rides share parts of the course, such as the infamous Ryals climb, with the National Elite Road Race Championships.

Organiser Peter Harrison said: “The whole Northern Rock Cyclone weekend is getting bigger and better by the year. We have exciting plans for 2011 so encourage riders to sign up early and plan to make the most of the whole weekend.”

The sportive will feature well-stocked feed stations, electronic timing, free bike checks at Newcastle’s Cyclelogical bike shop and a personalised certificate for every rider.

To make sure everyone completes the course safely technical backup is provided by Madison, National Escort Group (NEG) motorcycle outriders accompany participants and the route is marked out by Northumberland County Council. Photos of every rider are also available within 48 hours of the end of the ride.

British Cycling’s National Elite Road Race Championships are the biggest single day of racing on the British Calendar. With national championships taking place across Europe on the same day the race attracts the very best of British riders from the international peloton with last year’s field including Emma Pooley, Nicole Cooke, Geraint Thomas and Mark Cavendish.