The Milk Race reborn in Nottingham

Nottingham City Council has announced that The Milk Race is to make a return to the British sporting calendar after a 20-year absence.

The event, which initially ran between 1958 and 1993, is being reborn as a city centre race – to take place in Nottingham on Sunday 26th May 2013.

In its previous incarnation, The Milk Race was the most prestigious multi-stage event in the UK and the (now disbanded) Milk Marketing Board’s 35-year sponsorship remains the longest association the sport of cycling ever had.

The 2013 event includes an elite men’s race and an elite women’s race alongside a full day’s festival of cycling for all the family in Nottingham.

Numerous world and Olympic champions are expected to compete in the elite events, with London 2012 Team Pursuit champion, Steven Burke, the first to sign up.

Elements of the race involving professional cyclists will be organised by former world champion, Tony Doyle, who was a founder of the Tour of Britain.

The decision to bring back the race, and to re-ignite the link between the “white stuff” and cycling, was taken by The Dairy Council and the Milk Marketing Forum.

Nottingham has been chosen for the 2013 event because it is home to Raleigh and has a strong commitment to community cycling.

Further details about The Milk Race will be unveiled over the next few weeks on a new website – www.themilkrace.com

CMM managing director, Graham Allen, is sure to be in attendance, with an interest beyond that of the average spectator as an ex-club and semi-professional cyclist.