Pendleton's old club opens doors to all for cycling rally weekend

The Suffolk cycling club where Victoria Pendleton took her first pedal strokes towards Olympic and World Champ victory is opening its doors this Bank Holiday weekend for the Mildenhall Cycling Rally.

The centrepiece of the event will be grasstrack racing, with today’s track programme devoted solely to under-16s, while the seniors, including nearly 20 women, will contest the racing on the Sunday and Monday.

Alongside the racing will be a Cyclo-Cross madison, where teams of two will ride alternate laps for the 40 minutes duration, an under-17s Children’s Duathlon and under-16s Go-Ride Skilful Riding.

Meanwhile the CTC Suffolk will be organising 57, 100, 200 and 300km Audax Rides on the Saturday, and the evening boasts a cycle jumble sale.

“The Rally is known throughout the Great British cycling community as one of the best all-round cycling weekends that appeals to cyclists of all ages and especially families” said Mark Burchett, chairman of Mildenhall Cycling Club.

It can boast among its many thousands of competitors over the years such stars as Nicole Cook, Ben Swift and of course Victoria Pendleton, who was a member of the Mildenhall club when she was growing up.

"It’s grass-tracks like this where these young riders cut their teeth and there can be no denying that the skills they learnt have stood them in very good stead on the top International tracks around the world.

“We cannot let the moment pass us by without celebrating the career of Victoria Pendleton.

“Victoria was an active member of our Club as she was growing up."

For more information visit the Mildenhall Cycling Rally homepage.