Southend Wheelers Cycling Club Road Racing

Road racing is probably the best known of all the competitive cycling activities.

Competitors start en-mass in pre-arranged categories depending on ability or age. The first rider to cross the line is the overall race winner. In the UK, events range from short Youth and Juvenile (under16) races of 20km or less, through club level events for adults of between 40km and 100km, to Elite-level one day races of 200km or more. The majority of adult racing takes place on public roads, though there are an increasing number of circuit events, either on roads closed to other traffic or on specially constructed circuits. All under-16 racing takes place on traffic-free closed circuits such as Redbridge Cycle Circuit (Hog Hill), Redbridge.

The classic Road Race is a test of stamina, fitness and tactical acumen. Team tactics often come into play. Riders often have particular strengths: some can climb hills and mountains very quickly; others have a devastating turn of speed or sprint. Some Road Races are contested over several days and several stages. These "Stage" races or tours often feature prizes for each stage winner, plus others for the best sprinter in the race, the best climber (aka King of the Mountains), the leading team and, of course, the overall winner, who is the rider with the best aggregate time. The Tour de France is the world's most prestigious stage race and lasts for three weeks.

Road Racing is categorised into different classifications of race, open to riders of differing age/ability categories. Many races carry ranking points, which are sought after by riders hoping to make it up to the next ability category.

To compete in a road race competitors must hold a racing licence which can be obtained from British Cycling; The League International (TLI) or the League of Veteran Racing Cyclists (LVRC) depending on your age and what type of event you wish to take part in.

Southend Wheelers holds its own club road race championship every year with awards for junior, senior, veteran, lady and novice categories. The club promotes several road races every year both on the open road and closed circuits. The 2012 Road Race is scheduled for the afternoon of Sunday June 3rd at Hogg Hill (Redbridge Cycle Centre).

Selected local events are listed below

Click here for the Redbridge Cycling Centre Race/Event Calendar

Click here for the 2011 Eastern Region Road Race Calendar

Click here for the ERRL Road Race Rules.

Click here for a list of trophy winners from the Southend Wheelers Archives

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