Newport Nocturne set for thrills and spills

With cycling's recent boom in popularity, organisers are expecting the bi-annual event to attract its biggest crowd yet when it starts off on Newport High Street tomorrow from 6.30pm until 10pm.

It will start outside Davies, White and Perry and head down towards St Mary's Street, where a U-turn will see racers tackle the cobbles. It will then move on through Upper Bar to Avenue Road, Avenue Road South and Granville Avenue, where residents will be providing home made snacks and drinks out on the street to raise money for Severn Hospice in Telford.

Organiser Nick Jeggo said: "We are looking forward to this year's event and I think it will be good.

"We have had about 10,000 to 15,000 people before and with cycling being so popular at the moment, with the Tour de France being held in Britain and Sir Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome winning it in recent years, bike sales are on the up and that has made a difference – with membership of Newport's cycle clubs on the up – so those are all reasons why we think we will get a big crowd.

"Newport is a great town and we get a lot of support from local businesses in the town. We have about 20 or 30 sponsors so everybody does their bit."

Past editions of the race have featured Mark Cavendish, Sean Kelly, David Millar, Geraint Thomas and Ed Clancy and more big names are lined up for this year's event.

The race will use a familiar 1.2 mile circuit around Newport, with a lap taking just two minutes.

St Mary Street's cobbles provide much of the interest - while the turn from Lower Bar into the street has witnessed spectacular crashes over the years.

The race has attracted some top names over the years and this edition is no different.

Russ Downing of NFTO is a late entry, while his main opposition will come from the mighty Team Raleigh who are fielding Ian Wilkinson, winner in 2010 and second in 2012, alongside World Track Madison Champion Morgan Kneisky of France.

The women's event is also looking stronger all the time, with last minute entries from National Circuit Race Champion Eileen Roe and track star Katie Curtis, both of Starley Primal.

The pair will be taking on a six rider line up from Matrix-Vulpine containing both Penny Rowson, Nocturne winner in 2012 and Jo Tindley, the points winner. Second placed in 2012, Hannah Walker left Matrix to join Epic WRT and she is also likely to place highly.

The event this year features a special race for the men. The riders will line up in heats for a one lap sprint, the SP Holding Super Sprint.

The finalists will have to get their breath back quickly, because straight after the presentation they will be racing again in the main Pro/Elite men's event. There will be guaranteed action for the one hour long race as the riders sprint for lap prizes.

There's an added bonus for the winner, who will received his weight in beer, weighed on giant scales.

Racing begins at 7pm with musicians around the circuit entertaining the crowds from 6.30pm.

Meanwhile, a Newport estate agent will fulfil her long-held ambition when she travels in the lead car at this weekend's Newport Nocturne cycle race in front of thousands of supporters.

Caroline Anderson works for one of the Nocturne's main sponsors, county estate agents Nock Deighton, which is providing the official support car for the race tomorrow.

Company bosses and race organisers said after discovering Caroline's passion for the event, they offered her the chance to travel in the passenger seat of the lead vehicle as thousands of people from across the UK cheer on the cyclists behind them.

"The Nocturne is a brilliant event for Newport, and I have always made an effort to watch it as often as I can," said Caroline.

"It's an amazing spectacle, and I've always had a hankering to be involved in some way, so when I was asked if I'd like to ride in the lead car I was delighted."

The Newport Nocturne, which has been running since 1989, is a night race held every two years and has featured the likes of Mark Cavendish, Geraint Thomas, David Millar and Sean Kelly. Race organiser Michael Jeggo said: "The support car needs to be driven by a British Cycling-trained driver, so we couldn't offer Caroline that role, but we hope she enjoys the experience of being at the head of the race all the same.

"It's a tremendous event and has become a real success story thanks to the hard work of lots of volunteers and the support of local businesses like Nock Deighton, who we feel are helping to put the town on the map."

A bumper crowd of more than 15,000 is expected for Saturday's race, which is evidence of the sport's growing popularity.

Caroline added: "At Nock Deighton, we're keen to get involved with events that bring the local community together. The Nocturne is definitely one of the highlights of the year – for Newport and for the county as a whole."

For more details go to www.bikerace.co.uk.