The Northern Rock Cyclone festival of cycling will once again be held in Newcastle and Northumberland from Friday 11 to Sunday 13 June 2010.

The cycling festival starts on the evening of Friday 11 June with the successful Newcastle Leazes Criteriums - high speed closed circuit cycling races held in Leazes park in the shadow of St James Park, only 800m from the City Centre.  There will be a series of races for Youths, Senior and Elite category riders. The Elite race will be the highlight of the night starting about 8pm and lasting 1 hour.

Saturday 12 June is the day of the Cyclone Challenge rides, designed to provide an experience and a challenge for all ages and abilities. There is a choice of three rides of 33, 63 and 104 miles, starting and finishing at Newcastle Falcons Stadium at Kingston Park. The rides are designed to cater for all ages and abilities and are a great day out in the Northumbrian countryside.

The Beaumont Trophy Premier Calendar Road Race is on Sunday 13 June. The race will feature four climbs of the energy sapping Ryals as the peleton circuits Stamfordham Village five times. All the major UK teams are expected to ride and will be competing with some good Continental teams who have accepted the challenge to come over and the race the UK teams in their own backyard.

If you’re looking for a challenge to motivate you to get back on your bike in the New Year whether to get fit, raise money for charity, or if you simply want to come along and watch top class cycling, then this event is for you.

All details of the event are on the event website www.northernrockcyclone.co.uk including an online entry facility which allows all participants taking part in any of the rides or races over the whole weekend to enter online.