April 13, 2011 3.44 pm This story is over 154 months old

Local cyclist reps region in international race

Ambitious: A local cyclist is hoping to win big at two events in the coming weeks.

Lincoln Cyclist Tim Allen will represent the East Midlands in an international cycle race this weekend, in Rutland.

Allen (19) from Potterhanworth was approached by the East Midlands Regional Team to represent them for the International CiCLE Classic race.

He will also be tackling the Lincoln Cycle Grand Prix in May.

Describing winning the Grand Prix as one of his lifetime goals, Allen sees the CiCLE event as a great opportunity and good preparation for the Lincoln event.

Allen said: “I’m feeling confident, I know exactly where I need to be at each point of the circuit on the Lincoln Cycle Grand Prix; it’s just a matter of learning how to do it in the CiCLE Classic.”

At 125 miles long, the race in Rutland is over hard, hilly terrain with a lot of off road sections posing a tough test for competitors.

The budding cyclist completed seven out of 11 laps of the Grand Prix last year but hopes to finish this year, after finishing in the top 15 in three out of his five races this year.

He said: “This is the one race I have pictured time and time again as a kid, and imagined myself riding it.

“Winning is a lifetime goal, if I don’t succeed this year, I will come back next year even stronger.”

Allen is one of the newest members of the Lincolnshire Elite Athlete Programme (LEAP), run by Lincolnshire Sports Partnership, funding and supporting talented athletes from Lincolnshire.

LEAP Project Officer, Rachel Belcher wished Allen the best of luck at both his upcoming races.

Belcher said: “Lincolnshire Sports Partnership will be cheering him on and I’m confident he will finish in good a position in both events.”

Source: Lincolnshire Sports Partnership