Tim Elverson will target Rapha Nocturne glory when he sends two of his most in-form riders into battle in the capital on Saturday.
Rory Townsend and Harry Tanfield have been named in the five-man BIKE Channel Canyon squad for the crit in Cheapside, London (9.20pm).
Townsend was recently crowned HSBC UK Spring Cup champion, while Tanfield is fresh from ninth in the Memorial Philippe van Coningsloo and third in the Sint-Elooisprijs in Belgium.
With Elverson also naming Alex Richardson, Max Stedman and Jake Womersley in his line-up, he is confident of challenging for honours. The sports director said:
“I want Harry and Rory to have a proper go at the Nocturne. So we have shuffled things around to ensure we have a race-winning opportunity in both London and Belgium (Dwars door de Vlaamse Ardennen).
“I genuinely think Rory has a great chance. I don’t know who is racing it from a pro point of view but there will be some good guys.
“But both Rory and Harry are in very good form. It doesn’t necessarily need a full team for that race as it shakes down.
“We have a very good opportunity to get a top result and obviously we will be trying to win it. It will be hard, as a one-off race, everyone will be going as hard as they can.
“But it should be good. Rory is in form. And Harry is going pretty well at the moment. If only his memory was as good!
“Not only did he forget his passport on the way out to Belgium last weekend, he almost left his car keys behind on the way back!”
The Rapha Nocturne brings cycle racing to the heart of the city. The best amateur and professional riders will compete on an action-packed day.
Alongside the racing, there will be live music, food stalls, and exhibitions from the world of cycling, making it an unforgettable experience.
The entertainment begins around 2pm, with the elite men’s crit expected to finish at approximately 10.10pm.
