The National Criterium Championships will be held in Douglas, Cork, tomorrow week - Saturday July 27th. Last year’s winner Felix English (above) is in flying form on the UK pro crit scene this season.
The organisers of the National Criterium Championships in Cork on Saturday week have slashed the entry fee for the race from €50 to €30.
Cork County Cycling Club said the fee had been so high because of the limited number of riders permitted in the field at a criterium championships and also the very significant fees being charged by the local council to close the nine roads that will be impassable to traffic during the race and just before it.
“You can only have 60 riders in a criterium championship according to the Cycling Ireland rules and we didn’t have time to put on a support race to help pay for the road closures,” said Will Curtin of the promoting club.
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“We have hoped to have the race on the old Nissan crit circuit right in Cork city but between the fees for closing the roads and the other charges connected with planning permission for closures; we were looking at nearly €20,000.”
“For the circuit we have – 1.2km in Douglas just outside the city centre – the cost of it all is €6,500. There are nine corners on the course and the race is actually on five roads which have to be closed and there are four other roads leading into those that we have to close as well, so you have to pay a fee for every road you want to close.”
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Curtin added the restriction of 60 riders in the field is set to be relaxed by Cycling Ireland in order that more money will be raised from the entry fees.
“That’s how we are able to lower the entry fee. But even with a field bigger than 60 riders paying €30, that doesn’t cover all the costs, which obviously has to be paid with money from other sources, like a sponsor and so on.”
“The commissaires have to go down and walk the course before they decided how many more riders can be in the field. An obviously because the course is tight with nine corners of 1.2km, the safety of the riders has to be the biggest issue for everyone.”
“The course is in the middle of Douglas which is around 1.3km from the heart of Cork City and there are lots of shops around and bars so that should all add to a great atmosphere; plenty to do before the race and plenty to do after it if you are coming down to look at the race.”
The race is pre-entry only, you can enter here: http://media.wix.com/ugd/11b962_abc9868b04d4c537dc1d1d2051ffe9e8.pdf
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