GB vs. Australia Team Pursuit Set For IG London Nocturne

Taking place on 9th June, Smithfield Market will be turned in to a race circuit to stage the annual cycling event which features the Saint-Gobain Elite Criterium as its finale. This year’s race will feature ten pro teams with riders from Team Sky and Orica-GreenEdge lining up alongside the leading British squads. Stars such as Matt Goss and Brett Lancaster (Orica-GreenEdge) are on the start sheet setting up a world class field that reinforces the IG London Nocturne's reputation as the premier Elite Criterium in the UK.

Fresh from winning a stage in the Giro d’Italia 2012, Matt Goss will be Mark Cavendish’s biggest opponent at the Games so he will be using the Nocturne as a warm up event on British soil. Cavendish’s team mate Ian Stannard who was hugely influential in his successes at the Giro, will be keen to represent Team Sky on the circuit, hoping to follow in Alex Dowsett’s winning tracks from 2011. Olympic gold medallist Brett Lancaster (Aus) will also be at the forefront of the elite field year’s Nocturne.

As well as the Saint-Gobain Elite Criterium these teams will compete in a feature Elite Elimination race. In a similar format to the track cycling race, the Elimination will see one rider from each team compete over 10 laps with the last rider over the line eliminated each lap until only two are left to contest the final sprint.

The Rapha Women’s Elite Criterium, which was reinstated this year due to unprecedented demands from the elite cycling community, will be headed up by Paralympic Champion Sarah Storey, National Cyclo-cross Champion Helen Wyman, Mountain Biker Hannah Barnes and Rapha racer Emily Barnes.

The IG London Nocturne has re-invented inner City racing and created an exciting new race format that blends entertainment and performance sport. Since its inception in 2007, it has grown to become one of the coolest mini cycling festivals in the UK, attended by the likes of Paul Smith and held under the cover of darkness in one of the world’s most iconic city locations.

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. It’s completely free to come and watch all of this entertainment and each year the event attracts in excess of 10,000 people who take advantage of the bars and restaurant offers around the market whilst watching the race programme unfold. 

IG London Nocturne organiser James Pope said, "London is set for an exciting summer of sport culminating in the Olympics so we are delighted to welcome some Olympic Champions to the IG London Nocturne on 9th June. With riders from Team Sky and Orica-GreenEdge lined up to take on the best British pro teams we are set for an awesome night of racing in the heart of the City. ”

The full team line up for the Saint-Gobain Elite Criterium includes Team Sky, Orica-GreenEdge, Rapha Condor Sharp, IG-Sigma Sport, Endura Racing, Raleigh-GAC, Node4 Pro Cycling, Metaltek-Scott, Cycle Premier and the German continental team Rudy Project Racing Team.

The IG London Nocturne is free to attend and full details of all the races, including the Saint-Gobain Elite Criterium can be found on www.londonnocturne.com. 

Channel 4 highlights of the event will be broadcast on 16th June and available online on 4OD.