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Velo Birmingham and Midlands 2019.PNGVélo Birmingham & Midlands back for third edition next year
Vélo Birmingham & Midlands will return for its third edition next year and moves to a summer slot, with the closed road sportive taking place on Sunday 28 June.
Organisers say that up to 18,000 people will take part in the event, with route options available of 42 or 100 miles on fully closed roads.
The event was originally launched in 2017 as Vélo Birmingham but a planned second edition for last year was postponed and eventually held under the new name last month.
However, the event was overshadowed by the death of one participant who crashed on what police described as a steep downhill section with tight bends.
Elsewhere on the course a number of cyclists were injured, some seriously, on what was described as a “deathtrap” descent of Parsons Hill in Kings Norton, with organsisers criticised for the absence of marshals and not neutralising the section of thee route.
> Injured Velo Birmingham riders complain of dangerous descent with speedbumps on it
Commenting on next year’s event, Richard Relton, CEO of the Vélo Series, said: “We are delighted to have secured a brand new, summertime date for the third edition of Vélo Birmingham & Midlands.
“The 2019 event was a huge success and we’re looking forward to returning in exactly one year’s time with an even bigger and more inclusive event.
“Vélo Birmingham & Midlands is now one of the Midlands’ biggest annual sporting events and we’re committed to growing and improving it year on year, not only for the participants but also for the region as a whole.”
West Midlands cycling and walking ambassador Shanaze Reade said: “I’m excited to hear that Vélo Birmingham & Midlands, the second biggest closed road sportive in the UK, is returning in 2020.
“It’s a great event and an opportunity for the region to showcase the benefits of cycling. I hope it inspires some more people to take up a new challenge and get fitter, a goal I’m proud to be supporting in the area.”
You can pre-register for the event now at this link.
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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3 comments
How do you "neutralise" an event that is absolutely not a race??
Exactly, if you're riding within yourself (as you would when it's not a race or time trial) and particularly taking into account numbers of participants so the road ahead may not be visible all the time then you shouldn't need marshals, just like you wouldn't need marshals if driving!
Asking people to slow down (neutralising) is a problem of the participants, the usual type spring to mind but also people who ride way beyond their capabilities as they get carried away. Sans helmet these events would be much safer all round, but then people can't see and don't want to accept how these events bring out the worst traits in people especially when they feel so protected (by the helmet) and without the threat of motor-vehicles, a terrible combination for reckless riding.
Moaning NIMBYs in three - two - one...