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UCI World Cup 2005

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Organiser's Press release

UCI Women's Road World Cup Makes UK Debut - Wales to host world class women's professional road race

One of the most prestigious races in the international women's professional road cycling calendar will take place in the UK for the first time in Newport, Wales on Saturday 20th August 2005.

Officially launched today by Alun Pugh AM, Minister for Culture, the Welsh Language and Sport at The Celtic Manor Resort, the UCI Women's Road World Cup will feature Wales' own rising star, Commonwealth champion Nicole Cooke. As part of the celebrations surrounding the race, there will also be BikeWales, a major bike ride open to the general public, taking place on Sunday 21st August.

The Celtic Manor Resort, a venue that's fast becoming synonymous with top class sporting events, will play host to the 3 lap, 71 miles (114km) 2005 World Cup race, the 8th of the 11-round series. Broadcast live by BBC Grandstand, there will be over 30 professional teams from around the globe competing in Newport. Racing at the highest level is promised, with plenty of excitement and supreme effort from the cream of the world's top women cyclists who will be aiming to take vital points in the bid for the prestigious title.

Nicole Cooke, who in 2003 became the first British rider to win a World Cup series, is currently 4th in this year's standings. She had a strong start to the series, winning first place ahead of the pack at La Fleche Wallonne in Belgium. Looking forward to extending her record of wins, she is delighted at the boost to British women's cycling that the Newport World Cup will mean: "I've competed twice before at the Celtic Manor and it will be a fantastic venue for the first International standard women's race in Britain for nearly a decade. Cycling continues to go from strength to strength and to race against the best riders in the world in front of my home crowd will be very special. The Newport World Cup is definitely going to be one of the highlights of the season for me and hopefully it will develop into one of the classics of the racing calendar".

The event is being supported by the Welsh Assembly Government, Health Challenge Wales, Newport Unlimited, Newport City Council, Sports Council for Wales, UK Sport, Welsh Cycling and British Cycling. All are delighted to welcome major sporting events such as the World Cup to Wales and will be working with organisers, Sport for Television, to ensure that as many people as possible can enjoy the excitement and atmosphere that the event will bring.

Alun Pugh AM comments "Wales is fast building a reputation for hosting major sporting events and we're delighted to welcome the UCI Women's Road World Cup to Newport. Cycling is important both as an exciting spectator sport and as an activity that many of us can enjoy. In addition, Health Challenge Wales will be supporting BikeWales, the public ride event taking place on Sunday 21st August, which promises to be great fun for all ages and levels of ability".

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