Shropshire Star Newport Nocturne
Encyclopedia
The Shropshire Star Newport Nocturne is Britain
's first flood lit
road bicycle race and is biennial held in Newport, Shropshire
. The race was first run in 1970 at a distance of 109 miles (175.4 km). It was won in 2007 by Malcolm Elliott
. The race was first run as a night race under flood lights in 1989 and returned in 1990 and 1991 in this format. The economic recession of the early 1990s forced the event to be cancelled in 1992.
The race was brought back in 2001 at the request of the town council.
Following the 2001 race, the Shropshire Star
newspaper became title sponsor of the race. The 2003 edition attracted Sean Kelly
as a guest and 14,000 spectators. The event was developed in 2005 with the addition of the "One Lap Challenge", specifically designed for track cyclists. In 2007, the event was made up of three races: the British Cycling Elite Circuit race, a past masters race and a showcase event involving British
Tour de France
riders Bradley Wiggins
, Mark Cavendish
and Geraint Thomas
, along with Olympic
medalist Rob Hayles
and young rider Simon Holt.
, heading north towards St Nicolas' Church and around the church onto the cobblestone
s of St Mary's Street and around the other side of the church, coming back onto the other side of the High Street, heading up the other side of the High Street. The racers then turn left onto Avenue Road - a quiet, predominantly residential area. The racers then turn at the bowling club and head down Granville Avenue
before going back on the High Street to the finishing line.
and Nicole Cooke
which lined up to compete
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
's first flood lit
Floodlights (sport)
Floodlights are broad-beamed, high-intensity artificial lights often used to illuminate outdoor playing fields while an outdoor sports event is being held during low-light conditions....
road bicycle race and is biennial held in Newport, Shropshire
Newport, Shropshire
Newport is a market town in the borough of Telford and Wrekin and ceremonial county of Shropshire, England. It lies some north of Telford and some west of Stafford sitting on the Shropshire/Staffordshire border...
. The race was first run in 1970 at a distance of 109 miles (175.4 km). It was won in 2007 by Malcolm Elliott
Malcolm Elliott
Malcolm Elliott is an English professional cyclist, whose professional career has lasted from 1984 to 1997 when he retired and from 2003 up to the present day when he made his comeback in British domestic racing....
. The race was first run as a night race under flood lights in 1989 and returned in 1990 and 1991 in this format. The economic recession of the early 1990s forced the event to be cancelled in 1992.
Following the 2001 race, the Shropshire Star
Shropshire Star
The Shropshire Star is a regional newspaper covering the whole of Shropshire, plus parts of Herefordshire, Worcestershire, Cheshire, the Llangollen area and northern Powys in the United Kingdom.-About:The editor is Keith Harrison....
newspaper became title sponsor of the race. The 2003 edition attracted Sean Kelly
Seán Kelly (cyclist)
John James 'Sean' Kelly is an Irish former professional road bicycle racer. He was one of the most successful road cyclists of the 1980s, and one of the finest classics riders of all time. From turning professional in 1977 until his retirement in 1994, he won nine monument classics, and 193...
as a guest and 14,000 spectators. The event was developed in 2005 with the addition of the "One Lap Challenge", specifically designed for track cyclists. In 2007, the event was made up of three races: the British Cycling Elite Circuit race, a past masters race and a showcase event involving British
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
Tour de France
Tour de France
The Tour de France is an annual bicycle race held in France and nearby countries. First staged in 1903, the race covers more than and lasts three weeks. As the best known and most prestigious of cycling's three "Grand Tours", the Tour de France attracts riders and teams from around the world. The...
riders Bradley Wiggins
Bradley Wiggins
Bradley Marc Wiggins, CBE is a British professional track and road bicycle racer, currently riding for Team Sky. Wiggins' career began on the track, where he specialised in the pursuit and madison disciplines....
, Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish
Mark Cavendish MBE is a Manx professional road racing cyclist who rides for UCI ProTeam until the end of this season when the team is dissolved. He will join Team Sky at the start of the 2012 season...
and Geraint Thomas
Geraint Thomas
Geraint Howell Thomas, MBE is a Welsh professional racing cyclist who rides for the UCI ProTour team . A track cycling world champion and Olympic gold medalist in the team pursuit, Thomas has also enjoyed success on the road, winning the Junior Paris-Roubaix in 2004, the British National...
, along with Olympic
Olympic Games
The Olympic Games is a major international event featuring summer and winter sports, in which thousands of athletes participate in a variety of competitions. The Olympic Games have come to be regarded as the world’s foremost sports competition where more than 200 nations participate...
medalist Rob Hayles
Rob Hayles
Robert John Hayles is a track and road racing cyclist, riding for Great Britain and England on the track and his professional team Endura Racing on the road. Hayles rides the team pursuit and madison events....
and young rider Simon Holt.
The track
The track follows the same route every year and starts off in the High StreetHigh Street
High Street, or the High Street, is a metonym for the generic name of the primary business street of towns or cities, especially in the United Kingdom. It is usually a focal point for shops and retailers in city centres, and is most often used in reference to retailing...
, heading north towards St Nicolas' Church and around the church onto the cobblestone
Cobblestone
Cobblestones are stones that were frequently used in the pavement of early streets. "Cobblestone" is derived from the very old English word "cob", which had a wide range of meanings, one of which was "rounded lump" with overtones of large size...
s of St Mary's Street and around the other side of the church, coming back onto the other side of the High Street, heading up the other side of the High Street. The racers then turn left onto Avenue Road - a quiet, predominantly residential area. The racers then turn at the bowling club and head down Granville Avenue
Street name
A street name or odonym is an identifying name given to a street. The street name usually forms part of the address...
before going back on the High Street to the finishing line.
2010
The next nocturne was on the 4th of September 2010 , with British cycling’s leading female stars including Victoria PendletonVictoria Pendleton
Victoria Louise Pendleton MBE is a British Olympic and world champion track cyclist. Her father, Max, was also a British national grass-track cycling champion.-Early years:...
and Nicole Cooke
Nicole Cooke
Nicole Denise Cooke, MBE is a Welsh professional road bicycle racer for the Mario Cipollini - Giordana Team team, and is the current Olympic road race champion.-Early life:...
which lined up to compete