Paralympic hero Sarah Storey visits Lincoln ahead of cycling competition

With just a month until Lincoln hosts the prestigious British Cycling National Road Championships, Paralympic legend Dame Sarah Storey visited the city to gain a sense of the challenges lying in wait for the cyclists.

Sarah, Britain’s most decorated female Paralympian ever, having won 11 gold, eight silver and three bronze medals across six Paralympic Games, was joined by cyclists from the women’s national squad to do a recce of the course.

The cyclists went for a ride around the country loop for the event and the Lincoln Grand Prix circuit before arriving in Castle Square in the late afternoon.

Sarah said: “The road championships is as big as it gets really. It’s one of the biggest events that the UK will see and perhaps the best way to describe it would be as the FA Cup Final for cycling.

“Everyone wants to win national championships – to be the road champion or time trial champion and have the stripes to wear for the following year would be a dream come true for any rider.

“I’ve never ridden successfully on cobbles, especially not uphill, but I’m always up for a challenge to see how it works technically for me and today we’re looking at getting as much information about the course so we’re fully prepared for next month.”

Leaving the start of the course at Yarborough Leisure Centre. Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

The Time Trial Championships will be held on June 25 in a loop around the Lincolnshire Wolds and at Cadwell Park Motor Racing Circuit.

Events such as The Uphill Dash, The Championship Sportive and The Castle Criteriums will keep spectators entertained before the four day competition concludes with The National Road Race Championships, described as the most valued single day event on the British Cycling road racing calendar.

Left to right: Ian Emmerson OBE (event organiser), Dame Sarah Storey, Angela Lawrence (Chair of West Lindsey District Council). Photo: Steve Smailes for The Lincolnite

Event organiser Ian Emmerson OBE added: “This is the most important sporting event held in the city, bringing all the best British riders to Lincoln.

“They will be joined by an enormous following and we’re expecting around 30,000 spectators in the city which will bring huge benefits in terms of publicity and for the local economy.

“We’re going to be opening up the Castle grounds and have a big screens so people not at the finish line can see the end of the race live on television.”

Information on the course and road closures can be found on the National Road Championships’ website.