Newport Nocturne floodlit cycling race set to return

Newport Nocturne organisers have reached an agreement with British Cycling for the event to take place in Newport town centre on August 30, eight days before the start of the Tour of Britain.

The biennial race attracts about 15,000 spectators to see professional cyclists tearing along High Street and St Mary's Street.

Nick Jeggo, who organises the race with his father Mick, said he had been waiting for British Cycling to agree a date. Now he has just four months to raise the £23,000 needed to stage the event.

Mr Jeggo said: "We've been trying to fix a date for a while but we've finally got the go-ahead from British Cycling."

"They didn't want any major events just before the Tour of Britain so we had to go for the week earlier.

"It's now going to be a big rush and a lot of stress. We need to find the sponsors and the helpers."

There will be a men's race, a women's race and a showpiece competition, details of which are to be arranged.

Mr Jeggo said he was keen to build on the women's race, added to the event in 2012.

He hopes to attract some of the biggest female names in the sport, including the likes of Laura Trott, Joanna Rowsell, Dani King and Lizzie Armitstead.

Mr Jeggo said: "I think we'll get a very high standard of riders. We'll have Olympic medal winners involved, I'm sure of that.

"Ed Clancy is a real possibility and we really want to build on the success of the women's race."

Mr Jeggo said cycling will be booming in popularity by the time the Nocturne comes around.

"The Tour of Italy starts in Northern Ireland in May and the Tour of France starts in Yorkshire in July," he said.

The Jeggo father-and-son double act are now searching for a big name sponsor to provide much of the £23,000 needed. Mr Jeggo also called for the support of small businesses in Newport, saying:

"People can sponsor each race or even individual laps for anything from £50 to £10,000."

For details call him on 07967452688.