A little of what Morvelo City Cross is. The idea was to breakdown all the usual genres of cycle racing to create a visual spectacle, something to hopefully (ever the optimist) engage non-cyclists with the idea that watching cycling is fun, before Le Tour comes. We’ve created the essence of Belgian cyclocross and all it’s pomp and ceremony with a Yorkshire twist. We ran the inaugural event in Shroggs Tip back in March, working with the ever helpful events and tourism team from Calderdale Council. The buzz was amazing, people came from all over the country to race, bring stalls, spectate and have a lovely day out.
They’ve asked us back again but this time they’re letting us loose with the grade one listed Piece Hall in the centre of Halifax. The racing is a series of knock out rounds of moto style cyclocross, however no bike is truly suited to the course, you can ride what you like.
Morvelo City Cross – Round 2 from Whitenosugar Productions on Vimeo.
To accompany this we have some of the quirkiest caterers that we can, we have two Citroen H-vans (like the broom wagon for le Tour) Streatza Pizza and The Madeline Express with baked goods, Fish& with the frites and mayo, The Porkery with their home grown hog-roast, the award winning Exchange Coffee and a bar.
We have exhibitions from photographers Joolze Dymond and Ed Rollason, art from Rebecca J Kaye, Antony Oram, Claudi and I, WhiteNoSugarTV and limited edition prints from Jo Burt. Shops and stands from Hackney GT, Morvelo, Clif, Lezyne, Hope Technology, Od Designs, CycleGear, Blazing Saddles, Molesey Bicycle Workshop and Victor & Liberty and RedBull.
We have bicycle brands Saddleback, Felt, Kinesis UK, Feather Cycles, Chickens Frame Emporium, Kinoko Cycles, Grim Cycles and Shed6 Cycles.
Commentary on the day from the legendary Matt ‘Fixer’ Payne. The CTC mini pump track for the kids. Magicians from Eureka Children’s Museum. DJ Shedfire aka Brant Richards head of design for Planet X Bikes.
The racing covers all age groups with separate races fro U8, U10, U12, Youth/Junior, Women, V40 women, Novice, Senior Men, V40 men. During the day there are a series of knock out rounds or fast paced racing culminating in the finals from 5.30pm under the flood lights.
There’s also Roller Racing from South Coast Sprints that anyone can have a go on.
The viewing galleries are open on the upper tier of the building where the units are open for the stands.
This has never happened before in a grade one listed building anywhere in the UK. It can never happen again as The Piece Hall is being shut down for a well deserved restoration in January.
Trust me, you won’t want to miss this one.