We all have a favourite race that’s for sure. Over the years I have avidly followed Paris-Roubaix.  This race is awesome, ridden by hard Belgians with craggy faces and just one eye in the middle of their forehead. This race is the creator of legends. Who remembers the time where, as usual,  the riders hugged the relative smooth gutters of the pave to avoid the cobble strewn crown of the road only to see mega hard man Brit Sean Yates blast them all off by going straight down the middle over the humps bumps and potholes to finish a remarkable fifth behind Andrei Tchmil. An awesome race and a photographers dream. Its right at the top of my list of “One thing to do before you die”!

Anyway, I’m trying to make a point here. The point being that we Brits now have a race in this country that whilst not being able to compete with P-R in terms of stature, history and legend is certainly a classic in the making and given time and continual sponsorship will start writing its own stories. I am talking about the International Cicle Classic. (To be pedantic a more realistic comparison would be the Montepaschi Strade Bianche in Italy but that doesn’t trip off the tongue quite as easily.) The race is run from Oakham to Melton Mowbray via a series of farm tracks and like P-R the hard men take charge. It laps a few times so is great for the spectator and because it’s in April is hostage to the weather. Bad weather and bike racing. Great for the photographer, perhaps not so good for the cyclist.So do yourselves a favour and head for this race next spring. You wont regret it