Over the last half century, the East Yorkshire Classic race has developed from a two day, three stage race into one of the most important one day events on the British Cycling Premier Calendar. Now it’s the 2006 National Championships.

First held in 1955, it has always been a major event in the UK cycling calendar and now the promoting Hull Thursday Road Club are hosting three events starting with a round of the Elite Men’s Circuit Races in Beverley Town Centre on Friday 23rd June at 19.30.

The British Cycling Women’s National Championship on Saturday 24th June covering 63.5 miles / 102km starts from New Walk, Beverley at 12.00 and heads out to Etton for seven laps of a 7.7 mile / 12.4km circuit before returning to New Walk for the finish. The women’s race will also include a special National Championship for women aged under 23.

The Men’s Elite National Road Race Championships on Sunday 25th June covering 116.8 miles / 188km starts at 10.00 from New Walk and heads out towards the Yorkshire Wolds and includes two full laps of a tough 20 mile circuit before returning to three laps of a circuit passing through the finish area each time at New Walk.

The Beverley races start the 3rd annual Yorkshire Festival of Cycling (23rd June – 9th July). The two week festival includes the ever-popular Otley Town Centre Races (28th June) and the Ryedale Grand Prix (9th July) in the Howardian Hills. Bob Howden, the Chairman of British Cycling Yorkshire, who promoted the 2005 National Championships at Duncombe Park, is delighted that these Blue Riband events are again returning to Yorkshire.

“I know these roads well and the Yorkshire Wolds will provide a stern test for the riders,” he said.

Thrilling Beverley Town Centre Race

Beverley hosts one of only 10 British Cycling Elite Circuit Races over a 1.7km circuit on the evening of Friday 23rd June with a 19.30 start in Saturday Market Place. 60 riders will race around the medieval streets, some cobbled(!), of the East Riding Town. All the weekend’s events are the highlight of National Bike Week (17th-25th June). Beverley Athletics Club will be hosting an elite 5km race and one lap fun run, open to all, prior to the circuit bike race.

Timetable of Events

Friday 23rd June:
18.15 – 18.30 Family Fun Run
18.30 – 19.00 Beverley Round Table Sponsored Truck Pull
18.40 – 19.05 Beverley Town Centre 5km Running Race
19.30 – 21.15 Beverley Town Centre Elite Cycle Race

Saturday 24th June:
12.00 – 15.00 Women’s National Championship Road Race
15.15 – 15.35 Women’s Presentations

Sunday 25th June:
10.00 – 15.10 Men’s National Road Race
10.15 – 12.30 Rotary Club Charity Family Cycle Ride

Men’s National Championships 2006 – Route and Estimated Timings

09.40 – Race assembly in New Walk Beverley
10.00 – Roll out from New Walk Beverley, Neutralised section

To Beverley Bar and Right at the lights A1035. Left into Newbald Road and cross the Westwood to crossroads and then Left to Walkington lights, Right at the lights. Through Walkington village (2.7 miles).

10.15 – Start of race proper at national speed limit sign.
10.30 – B1230 High Hunsley crossroads. Straight on to descend the hill to the A1034. Left, then first Right towards North Cave. First Right in North Cave towards Country Park, Left passed the church and straight on to the end of the village direction Cliffe.
10.40 – Through South Cliffe and North Cliffe to Left turn (15.3 miles).
10.50 – Left on unclassified road for 2.5 miles, then Left towards roundabout (16 miles).
10.55 – Straight on at Shiptonthorpe roundabout, to Towthorpe Corner roundabout.
At Towthorpe Corner roundabout straight on towards Middleton on the Wolds.
11.15 – At Middleton on the Wolds (25.2miles) bear Left at roundabout towards North Dalton into North Dalton (27miles), Left towards Huggate (gradual climb for 3 miles) Straight on through Huggate then right towards Huggate Wold
11.35 – Feeding Zone 1st time 31.6 miles
12.25 – Feeding Zone 2nd time 51.6 miles
13.15 – Feeding Zone 3rd time 71.6 miles
Straight through Huggate Wold then Left at cross roads (34 miles).
Start descent to Millington Grange (35.2 miles), then Left to Millington village.
11.45 – Through village 1st time
12.37 – Through village 2nd time
13.30 – Through village 3rd time
Right at crossroads on entering village then 2nd Left and Right again down steep narrow descent (Care) to B1246. At Tee junction Left onto B1246 (Towards Warter village (39.3 miles) Water village Monument – to start two full 20 mile laps
12.00 – Warter village monument 1st time (42.6miles)
12.53 – Warter village monument 2nd time – end of 1st lap (62.6miles)
13.45 – Warter village monument 3rd time – end of 2nd lap (82.6miles)
12.10 – Straight on through Warter to North Dalton (47miles)
In North Dalton Left again to Huggate
At the end of 2nd Full circuit in Warter turn Right.
13.45 – at Warter village monument towards Nunburnholme. (82.6miles)

Return Journey

13.50 – Left after village then Left at the bottom of the Steep hill – Nunburnholme
14:05 – Straight on at the top crossroads and drop into Londesborough then Left to Towthorpe roundabout Straight on towards Market Weighton. Left before town centre (direction Goodmanham) Up through Goodmanham village then straight on, to crossroads where Right towards South Dalton, (narrow roads and fast descent) at next crossroads Straight on and again straight on at next crossroads towards Etton village.
14.25 – At the next crossroads Right then at Tee junction Left into Etton (97 miles)
Straight through the village to Tee junction with B1248 (Great Care)
Right onto B1248 heading south towards Beverley
14.35 – At Roundabout (Dog Kennel Lane) bear Right to Killingwoldgraves Lane 5 way roundabout A1035 (100.1 miles)
14.40 – Turn Left (direction Beverley) down past the racecourse to North Bar traffic lights. Turn Left at Beverley North Bar lights into finish straight, 400 meters to Finish line (102 miles)
Start Finish Circuit. 3 Full laps
Through the finish area to Molescroft roundabout – Straight on to
14.45 – Dog Kennel Lane roundabout 1st time (105 miles)
14.55 – Dog Kennel Lane roundabout 2nd time (109.7 miles)
15.05 – Dog Kennel Lane roundabout 3rd time (113.8 miles)
Left to Killingwoldgraves roundabout where Left to Beverley again.
At the Bar Traffic lights Left into finish straight to complete
14.50 – 1 lap (107 miles)
15.00 – 2 laps (111.9 miles)
15.10 – 3 Laps (116.8 miles)

More at: www.eastyorkshireclassic.co.uk