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200 cyclists to escort Olympic torch into York next month - similar plans for Cambridge too?

Historic cities are only ones in UK where LOCOG has granted permission for cycle escort for torch relay

Some 200 cyclists from York will escort the Olympic torch into the historic city when it passes through on its relay on 19 June – one of only two places in the UK granted permission by London 2012 organisers LOCOG to provide a cycle escort, the other being Cambridge.

City of York Council says that the torch cycle escort will be marshalled by council cycle trainer, and will ride behind the main torch convoy as it heads along Tadcaster Road before peeling off at Micklegate Bar, with the cyclists heading towards Knavesmire for an evening celebration starting at 5pm.

Councillor Sonja Crisp, the council’s cabinet member for Leisure, Culture and Social Inclusion said: "It is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be part of the Torch Relay as it brings a taste of the Olympic spirit to Great Britain. We've worked hard to offer residents another fantastic way of sharing in the build-up to the 2012 London Games which will add to the spectacle."

Participants in the cycle escort, which is being co-ordinated by the council working alongside the police, York College and local cycling groups, will be chosen from cycling clubs and organisations based in the area, while some places will also be given as prizes in the York Cycle Challenge as well as through a competition to be run in the York Press.

More information on other ways to help out as the Olympic torch visits the city is available on a dedicated section of the council’s website.

Councillor Dave Merrett, City of York Council's cabinet member for City Strategy added: "With cycling an Olympic sport and so many people in York keeping active on bikes, this special escort helps showcase the city's exceptional cycling culture and provision for safer cycling which includes improvements to the junction of Micklegate Bar and Blossom Street junction where the escort will travel."

We’ve contacted Cambridge City Council to find out further details of the cycling element of the torch relay there, and will let you know those once we have them. The torch is die to arrive there on the evening of 7 July and depart the following morning.
 

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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3 comments

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Alan Tullett | 12 years ago
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Just gatecrash! Always worked for me at parties!!

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northstar | 12 years ago
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Why did they turn you down? cheeky asking you to marshall after saying no too...

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bigmel | 12 years ago
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Maybe the torch is DUE to arrive.

Not for want of trying, my club did offer to escort the torch into or out of Bicester, but we were met with a firm NO!

We were asked to provide marshalls for the car parks though . . .

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