Cleveland hosted three Milk Race finishes during the 1980’s in Middlesbrough and in this week’s post I have included some pictures from the closing kilometres in 1985.
With both the start and finish in the town the 117km Stage 9 was won by Belgium rider Eric Van Lancker (that year’s eventual overall winner) ahead of Sweden’s Allen Andersson and American Jeff Pierce.
Paul Curran was the main local interest amongst a number of British riders in the international field. Paul a member of the England team finished fourth overall with some quality performances during the 12 Stages.
Month: May 2020
East Coast Classic Two Day ’88
During the 1980’s there were four editions of the East Coast Classic in Cleveland. The first of two Star Trophy counting events was in ’84, won by Peter Sanders, then in ’85 local rider Paul Curran was first across the line after a hundred miles of tough riding. The following year the format changed when the event moved onto the professional calender and was won by Tony Doyle.
The images I have chosen to post this week are from the 1988 edition when the format was changed to a Junior two day race.
On missing TDY
One of the events I was looking forward to this year, until lock-down changed all our lives, was the Tour de Yorkshire especially with a first stage finish planned for Redcar bringing the race 176km up the east coast into the Cleveland area.
Personally it brought back memories of an atmospheric afternoon on the “Côte de Grosmont” on the opening stage of the first edition of TDY in 2015, anticipating a view of the leaders on the descent to Grosmont station before the climb.
So holding that thought this week’s blog pics are more twenty-first century than the usual 70’s/80’s nostalgia. I hope you enjoy
More Competitors against the Watch
This week I thought I’d include another collection of riders in time trial competitions from the 70s/80’s. Events run in the Stokesley-Tontine area, Catterick, Wetherby and a time trial road race stage which took in Sutton Bank are amongst the competitions against the watch in this post.
Junior Women’s World Road Championship 1990
I’m re-visiting July 1990 this week to when Cleveland hosted the Junior World Championships, but this time it features the women’s road title which was also decided on roads around Stockton-on-Tees. This selection of pictures is from the 48 km race.
- Ina-Yoko Teutenberg (GER)
- Jessica Grieco (USA)
- Danielle Overgaag (NED)
- Denise Mueller (USA)
- Simone Hoefig (DDR)
- Sally Dawes (GBR)
- Elsbeth Vink-Van Rooy (NED)
- Maryline Salvetat (FRA)
- Michela Fanini (ITA)
- Idoia Lazkoz (SPA)
Retroglance 