Laura Trott and sister Emma to take on the men at Elveden Estate Cycle Races tomorrow

Male cyclists taking part in a Category 2/3/4 race in Elveden, Suffolk this weekend will have a double Olympic champion as one of their rivals after Wiggle Honda’s Laura Trott was granted special dispensation by British Cycling to cross the gender divide to enter the event.

The 21-year-old, who won gold medals in the team pursuit and omnium in London last summer, will be joined in the race by her older sister, Emma, who is based in Belgium and rides for the Boels Dolmans team.

Both will also take part in the women’s race at the Elveden Estate Cycle Races, the third in a series of five events being held on a 5km circuit on the 22,486 acre private estate belonging to Lord Iveagh, a member of the Guinness family.

According to the Hertfordshire Mercury, Lord Iveagh, aged 43, approached British Cycling to offer a 5km paved circuit inside the Elveden Estate to be used for the series of races which began in March and finishes next month.

Referring to Trott’s presence tomorrow, he said: “We are absolutely delighted to have a rider of this calibre at day three of the Elveden Cycle Series.

“The cycling circuit has gone down extremely well with the cycling community both far and wide and to attract Laura is a real success.”

The event is organised by Ken Joliffe, with the help of Bishops Stortford CC, Mildenhall CC and West Suffolk Wheelers and Triathlon Club, who said: “Why not spend a pleasant day in the countryside? No traffic, no noise in a beautiful setting and the opportunity to see Laura Trott in action? It will be one of your few chances to see her in action in a UK race.”

He added: “This circuit is a real gem, in that it is a real but short road circuit without the traffic. We want Elveden to be thought of as something special, something more than just another race. The circuit and the setting are certainly very unique and so will the catering.”

Entry and parking for spectators is free, with the first event, a Category 4 race with a field of 100 riders, starting at 9.45am. The final event is the most eagerly anticipated one – the ten-lap senior men’s race, including the Trott sisters, which starts at 3.30pm.

Full details are available on the event website.

http://elvedencycleraces.com