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Velo Birmingham 2017 route map.jpgDetails released of 100-mile Vélo Birmingham sportive, coming in September 2017
England rugby star Martin Johnson and London 2012 chief and double Olympic gold medallist Lord Sebastian Coe have officially launched Vélo Birmingham, which will see up to 15,000 cyclists tackle a 100-mile closed-road route in September 2017.
Launched today at the Cycle Show at the NEC and jointly organised by CSM Active and Birmingham City Council, the event on 24 eptember 2017 will coincide with the return of the HSBC UK BikeFest, which the city hosted last weekend.
The route will start and finish in Birmingham city centre and visits Worcestershire, Herefordshire and Staffordshire.
With 30,000 people already pre-registered on the event website to discover more about it, it’s likely there will be strong demand for the 15,000 places available.
Entries open at 8am on Thursday, 29 September and priority will be given to people who have registered on the website by 5pm the previous evening. Entry can also be done via one of the events lead charity partners, which are the Alzheimer’s Society, Cure Leukaemia, NSPCC and Queen Elizabeth Hospital.
Corporate teams can enter the Birmingham Business 100, with organisers hoping that 100 of them will compete with the aim of raising £100,000 for charity – and one will have the chance of Rugby World Cup winner Johnson, who was born in Solihull, joining them.
He said: “As a cycling fanatic, it’s hugely exciting to see an event of this scale coming to my home town.
“Cycling on closed roads is absolutely exhilarating and I can’t wait to be one of 15,000 riders on the start line next September 24.
“My advice to anyone who is tempted to enter but is doubting their ability to complete 100 miles would be to just take the plunge and go for it!
“I speak from experience when I say that with the right training it’s an extremely achievable goal.
“Completing a century ride is a huge accomplishment and the feeling when you cross the finish line will be worth all the hard work.”
Coe, who is executive chairman of Chime Sports Management, the parent company of CSM Active, said: “The launch of Vélo Birmingham is a hugely significant milestone for CSM and it is extremely encouraging to see how well the event has been received.
“Vélo Birmingham is the first event in what is going to be an extremely diverse portfolio of large scale mass participation events owned and organised by CSM Active.
“Cycling is very much part of CSM Active’s core strategy and we look forward to developing our footprint in the sport in years to come,” he added.
Birmingham City Council is aiming for 10 per cent of trips in the city to be made by bicycle by 2033 and its deputy leader, Ian Ward, said Vélo Birmingham would form part of its push to raise the profile of cycling and get more people in the saddle.
“Vélo Birmingham is a huge event for Birmingham and we are extremely excited to welcome 15,000 cyclists from all over the UK to our magnificent city next September,” he said.
“The event will further strengthen Birmingham’s credentials as a modern and dynamic city capable of hosting large scale sporting events and will also serve as a powerful awareness platform for the Birmingham Cycle Revolution.
“The benefits of hosting an event such as Vélo Birmingham are plentiful, not least in terms of economic impact, charity fundraising and how it will inspire Birmingham residents to take up the sport of cycling and complete a challenge of a lifetime,” he added.
Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.
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28 comments
I wonder if any non-payers will sneak on and used the closed roads for free?
Whats the difference between fast track and normal?
I was going to do this if it was 50... maybe 60. But i'm not paying those prices to visit the second city.
I think the Great Manchester Cycle is back next year if you want to visit the second city
http://www.greatrun.org/great-manchester-cycle
Velo Birmingham, bought to you by CSM Active Ltd, who's registered adress is a P/O box.
How much is their cut I wonder?
Well, 15000 entrants. Lets say 2/3 at general entry, 1/3 at fast track entry. That's over £1,380,00 entry fees (on the conservative side because doesn't include corporate team entries). So possibly in excess of £1.5 million in entry fees alone.
Costs are probably massive but I'm sure sponsors, advertisers, grant funding (poss. Local Authority support?) will contribute handsomely to the coffers.
Are these things non-profit making? How much do the charities get (not including entrants' personal sponsorship)? How much do the 'directors' get?
You're right, these events are big business these days and obviously very well supported judging by pre-registration figures and offer what a lot of people want.
Now open to British Cycling members, £75 or £115. Both with a booking fee on top.
Taking the piss, I'm out.
Where are you seeing this? I just logged in and can't even find the event on the calendar.
There was a link in the weekly Members News email from BC last week, that then registered you for early registration. I got an email from BC at 7.55am this morning with a link to sign up today.
Makes Ride London look cheap at £58 !
I operate the Beacon RCC audaxes in this vicinity and they cost £8 to enter. Beat that!
- The Sunrise and Snowdrop Express: 25th February 2017
- The Kidderminster Killer: 22nd July 2017
Do your undoubtedly wonderful events have closed roads? No? Well it's not a comparison then, is it?
Hmm, I've just pre-registered, but I though I had don't that already. It seem like more climbing than London, but closed roads! But what is this Fast track business, no clue how much it is, and "Have your race pack delivered to your home in advance of the event." can't they just do that anyway? Why do event like this find the time to make fancy magazines but can't post a bloody race number so I don't need to go to some expo on saturday?
We will see if I cough up next week?
Same reason as RideLondon. The sponsors want you to go to their bloody expo on the Saturday.
I rode four centuries this summer, and if you add up the combined entry fees I think I'd have enough change left from £30 to buy fish & chips afterwards.
But it would be nice to experience roads free of moronic motorists for once.
If it's more than £49.99 I'm out. I don't see how they could charge more than ride London it should be much cheaper.
Meanwhile it's €32 for the Charly Gaul...
why are they so reluctant to give us the prices ... i wonder ... I'm with Paul though
By hiding the price until they open it for sale people won't have time to make a rational decision about whether to spend the money or not. They are already hinting at how oversubscribed it will be to put the pressure on for you to spend your money as quickly as possible at 8am.
Or am I being cynical?
but 'free' event photos
As opposed to the ~£50 for the Ride London ones! I'm not going to say 'ripoff' because people have got to earn a living, but I'm not paying £50 for a dozen dodgy photos of myself.
Agree, I can't believe that anybody buys them.
Whereas if they charged £10 - £15 I think 80%+ of people would buy them, surely they could make more money on that basis.
Right let's open up a book on what the entry fee for this is going to be then for an individual rider. I'll start the ball rolling at £58.95
Next ...
Two entry levels, I'd guess £120 for Fastrack & £80 for general.
Good guess, prices are out :
General = £78.75
Fast Track = £120.75
Lol, what do I win?
A bit expensive I think, probably due to low numbers, but I think they might increase that given the number pre-registered.
My bet is £80.
I'm up for it, too local for me not to, but it does sound like it's going to be an expensive one!
Where are you seeing a price? I can only find "prices will be announced shortly".
No prices announced, but look at http://www.velobirmingham.com/the-ride/entry-details/ to see it's no casual sportif.. they are building it up to be 'premium'.