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RACE INFORMATION:
FRIDAY 6 JULY:
TDF OPENING CEREMONY Trafalgar Square,
Westminster 1745-1815hrs & Whitehall Parade [GB squad
only]
SATURDAY 7 JULY:
INDIVIDUAL TIME TRIAL 35km –
Betteshanger Race Circuit, Deal
SUNDAY 8 JULY:
ROAD RACE – HYDE PARK, CENTRAL LONDON (TDF
Prologue Route)
The TOUR DE FRANCE. The greatest annual sporting event
on earth. In 2007 it comes to London & Kent and
Handcycling will have its first debut in the Tour
programme.
The World Handcycling Federation (WHF) is backing the
John Rudd Memorial Race Series as the UK leg of the WHF
World Cup and the races will include a 35km Individual
Time Trial at the newly opened Betteshanger Race Circuit
near Deal in Kent on Saturday 7th July. East Kent is now
home to the Betteshanger race circuit, the largest
purpose built closed track racing circuit in the UK,
part of an £18.7m regeneration which includes a 3.5km
road circuit, BMX track and mountain bike trails.
As well as the 3.5km six-metre wide cycle circuit with
its eight-metre start and finish straight, there will
also be a shorter loop for children, a sculpture park,
playgrounds, educational facilities, a nature park with
bird hides, educational facilities, a campsite and a
business park. It is hoped this venue will be the
centrepiece for future international handcycling events.
The Road Race on Sunday 8th July is around Hyde Park on
part of the Tour de France Prologue route, in front of
massive crowds. Our race will be within a series of high
profile cycling events held within the confines of the
park, including a celebrity race. Running in parallel
will be a ‘Peoples Village’ celebrating cycling in
London and its communities.
The race will be a sanctioned World Handcycling
Federation (WHF) 2007 World Cup event (see
www.worldhandcycling.com) and a European Handcycling
Federation (EHF) circuit event and as such will attract
some of the best Handcycling athletes in the World
including the current UCI World Champions and IPC
Paralympic medallists.
The race has been devloped in partnership with The Kent
Outdoor Pursuits Disability Project which is part of the
Kent County Council Sports Development Unit and funded
by Sport England - Active England programe. The project
has develops outdoor pursuits for disabled people. The
event will leave a lasting legacy for disabled sport in
Kent.
Over the last two years handcycling has been part of the
Tour of Britain, the Professional UCI cycling tour that
is mushrooming the popularity of cycling in the UK.
The Tour de France ‘Grand Depart’, as it is known, will
be massive this July. Organisers are anticipating crowds
of over 3 million during the 2 days of racing in London
and Kent.
The UK Handcycling Association is hoping to attract a
big field of UK riders this year and ALL abilities
should come along as it will be a huge showpiece for the
sport especially the second day in Hyde Park.
Accommodation over the weekend and our race HQ will be
at a University in Kent, so will be both convenient and
affordable.
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