Bike festival finale

May 22 2009 by Kieran Westbrook, Dumfries Standard Friday

WORLD famous cyclists will be hitting the streets of Dumfries as the Original Bicycle Festival draws to an exhilarating close with a town centre road race on Sunday.

Beijing gold medallist Ed Clancy and Sydney bronze medal-winner Jamie McCallum will be among the 300 competing in the Scottish Power Renewables Criterium event.

The Dumfries race will be the second of the weekend, with Castle Douglas being the venue on Saturday evening.

Ian Sinclair of Scottish Cycling said: “It’s going to be a great race. I think it’ll be very close and should be very exciting for the spectators who turn out. There are some top names who have come to Dumfries and Galloway to take part, and it should be a fantastic day.”

Ian Barr, the council’s events strategy officer, said: “The Criterium events will be a great end to a wonderful month of cycling in Dumfries and Galloway.”

Other top cyclists taking part include Tom and Sid Barris, Gareth Montgomery and Rob Hails.