Blackpool is set to welcome the last of the Nocturne evening crit races on 1 August and with it the strongest field of riders yet.
Leading UK-based teams have all entered their strongest squads. Russell Downing’s CandiTV squad, who dominated the recent Tour Series of crits and won last month’s Smithfield Nocturne, recently relieved brother Dean of the National Criterium Champions title in Beverley, and Dean and his Rapha Condor squad have a score to settle.
Blackpool will also be the first time that Rapha’s Kristian House comes face-to-face with Dan Lloyd since he out-sprinted the Cervelo pro at the British Road Race Championships in July.
Lloyd will be one of several ProTour riders on the start sheet as organisers FACE aim to bring a continental flavour to the Golden Mile circuit. Tour veteran and criterium specialist Antonio Tauler is also confirmed, and local team Science in Sport have drafted in Swiss track and crit specialist Franco Marvulli, fresh from the highly competitive French crit scene, to bolster their hopes in front of a home crowd.
Blackpool Nocturne organiser James Pope also announced today that South African riders Robbie Hunter and Daryl Impey from Barloworld will race, as well as a strong Halfords Bikehut squad featuring Rob Hayles, Ed Clancy and Ian Wilkinson.
Blackpool will be Impey’s first race since he won the Tour of Turkey in April. Team mate Robbie Hunter was the first South African rider to compete in the Tour de France in 2001, and was a stage winner in 2007. He won a stage in the Tour Mediteranean earlier this year.
Also on the start line will be a strong Halfords Bikehut squad: both Hayles and Wilkinson have won rounds of the Tour series this season – Hayles winning in Blackpool – and Wilkinson also won the Salford Nocturne last summer. Clancy won this year’s Eddy Soens Memorial Road Race as well as defending his team pursuit gold medal at this year’s World Cup in Copenhagen.
A traditional finish in the Milk Race, and more recently a fast and exciting Premier Calendar venue, the Nocturne course around Blackpool Tower and the North Promenade promises an exciting evening for riders and fans alike, with the Elite Criterium finishing off an entertaining programme including the folding bike race and a special Hoteliers Challenge.
The Blackpool Nocturne is free to attend and will take place around Blackpool Tower between 6pm and 10pm on Saturday 1 August. Find out more at www.nocturneseries.com.
