Got a folding bike? Race it!

BWC IV: Entry now open!


The 4th Brompton World Championship will be held on Sunday 4th October 2009 at Blenheim Palace, Oxfordshire.

The Brompton World Championship will again be held as part of the Bike Blenheim Palace event; after a successful collaboration in 2008, both parties were keen to join forces again and work together on this year’s event. Paul Orsi, Events Manager at Blenheim Palace, explained: “The two events share many common values, not least the desire for excellence and fun in sporting endeavours."

The Brompton World Championship is in its fourth successive year, its second in the UK; the first two races were held in Barcelona, Spain. The Championship will again be larger and better than the one that went before, and to reflect this, the field has been opened up to another 100 competitors, bringing the total number of entrants to 600. Places will be awarded on a first come first served basis, but in the light of the increased numbers, we will introduce a system of self-selected streaming, based on anticipated race times.

The Brompton World Championship is not merely a mass participation ride; it is a race, registered with British Cycling, with participants timed while completing a set number of laps over a specified course.

The 2009 event will be held over the same circuit as the 2008 race, comprising 2 laps of a 6.5km course; this will give last year’s participants the opportunity to beat the time they set over the same course last September, and maybe to beat the times set by BWC III winner, Alistair Kay, and Tour of Spain winner, Roberto Heras!

The course takes in many of the key landmarks of this World Heritage site, so even if you aren’t hell bent on coming first there will be plenty to keep you occupied. Alistair Kay, winner of the Brompton World Championship 2008, dubbed the event: ‘a fantastically eccentric British day out’.

Rules for the event are pretty straightforward; helmets are a must, as are a blazer or suit jacket, collared shirt and tie. Sports attire is not permitted, unless it is hidden by the approved kit! There is a prize for the best-dressed, so competitors are encouraged to make an effort. Katharine Horsman, BWC organiser, commented: “There were some extremely good costumes last year: Evil Kineval, a few morning suits, and some beautifully decorated bicycles; but my personal favourite was the gentleman dressed as a gorilla wearing a suit!”

Prizes will be awarded for the fastest male, female, junior (12 – 18), veteran (male & female 50+) and team competitors.

The deadline for registration is Sunday 20th September 2009. Full details may be found on the Brompton website: www.brompton.co.uk/bwc/2009/.