Archer Grand Prix cycle race

Archer GP
Race details
Date Late March/Early April
Region Chilterns, United Kingdom
English name Archer GP
Discipline Road race
Competition BC Premier Calendar
Type Single day race
Organiser Archer RC
Race director Stuart Benstead
History
First edition 1956
Editions 52
First winner  Alfred Howling (GBR)
Most wins  Steve Farrell (GBR) (x4)
Most recent  Simon Gaywood (GBR)

The Archer Grand Prix cycle race was part of the British Cycling Premier Calendar.

History

The Archer Grand Prix was run annually for over fifty years, organised by Stuart Benstead of the Archer Road Club (although Stuart Cook organised the last two events in 2006 and 2007). It was described by British Cycling as a "long running classic".[1] The first edition was held in 1956 and won by British rider, Alfred Howling. 1968 saw the first non-British winner when Jan Krekels of the Netherlands won the race. The race has in the past, adopted the name of its main sponsor, including Harp, Pernod and Cycling Weekly.

Consistently routed around the roads and lanes of the Chiltern Hills, the most recent route was split into a large and small circuit. The large circuit took in Whiteleaf Hill and Hughenden Valley while the small finish circuit included the finish at Winchmoor Hill.

The 2007 edition was won by Simon Gaywood riding for the Plowman Craven Associates team from Matt Talbot (Rapha Condor) and Andy Roche (Pinarello). The 53rd version of the race was scheduled to run in Spring 2008 but had to be cancelled because of policing issues.[2] The future of the race then became uncertain; it was scheduled to be held again on 19 April 2009,[3] but sponsorship problems led to a second cancellation.

Winners

References

  1. "2009 Premier Calendar and Circuit Series". British Cycling. 2008-12-04.
  2. "=The Big Interview: Stuart Benstead". Cycling Weekly. 2008-12-01.
  3. Lionel Birnie (2008-12-01). "British Race Calendar 2009". Cycling Weekly.