24 May 2012
Leigh Day & Co has been confirmed as the new sponsor to the Support Race at the IG London Nocturne Cycle Race on Saturday 9th June.
The race will be renamed the Leigh Day Kermesse, adopting the continental name of this popular style of amateur race in Belgium and the Netherlands, and take place on the 1km circuit around Smithfield Market in the City of London for 40mins plus an additional final three laps.
To add a continental flavour to the racing, sprint 'primes' will be included for the first time at the IG London Nocturne. Primes will encourage greater competition in the Leigh Day Kermesse through intermediate sprints after 15 and 30 minutes of the 45 minute race, with £100 up for grabs for the first rider across the line in each sprint.
IG London Nocturne organiser James Pope commented, "We're delighted to announce Leigh Day as the new race sponsor and their involvement has enabled us to enhance the race to include sprint primes.
"These sprints will add a new, exciting dimension to the racing so the Leigh Day Kermesse will be the perfect prelude to the Elite criteriums later in the programme."
The Leigh Day Kermesse will feature some of the UK's top amateur racers from the top clubs around the country including London Dynamo and Sigma Sport.
It has established itself over the years as the 'race to win' in the British Cycling calendar. The partnership is a perfect fit for Leigh Day & Co which is also the exclusive provider of legal advice to members of British Cycling and the British Triathlon Association.
Penny Knight, Head of the cycling law team at Leigh Day, commented, "The IG London Nocturne is one of the leading races on the British Cycling calendar and provides a great opportunity to extend our links within the sport.
"The race is right on our doorstep and as cyclists ourselves we have been regular spectators and have long had an ambition to get involved with these races which seem to increase in popularity with every year they are run."
The IG London Nocturne has re-invented inner City racing and created an exciting new race format that blends entertainment and performance sport.
The world's top riders, including GB hot tip Ed Clancy, come together to battle it out on the spectacular Smithfield Market urban circuit; many of which will go head to head a month later at the London 2012 Games - their goal - to be crowned the fastest street racer in the world.
In the buildup to the elite races, the Nocturne hosts events covering the full spectrum of cycling including the Brooks Penny Farthing race, the cult Tern Folding Bike Race and the Fixed Gear Schwalbe Longest Skid Competition.
There is something for everyone and for spectators it is completely free. The event attracts in excess of 10,000 people each year taking advantage of the bars and restaurant offers as well as the numerous stall around the market.
Channel 4 highlights of the event will be broadcast on 16th June and available online on 4OD.
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