Three Peaks Cyclo-cross race cancelled

The Three Peaks cyclo-cross race scheduled to take place on September 30 has been cancelled due to the ongoing foot and mouth crisis in southern England. The Three Peaks passes through some of Yorkshire's prime grazing lands and with thousands of sheep still on the hills, organiser John Rawnsley has taken the difficult decision to cancel the event, following lengthy consultations which local landowners and farmers

Riders were expected from all four corners of Britain as well as overseas, including Surrey, the current focal point of the crisis, the risk of spreading the disease was deemed too great to be acceptable. All the riders who have entries for the 2007 race will have their entries carried over to the 2008 event, subject their confirming their intention to ride.

"Canceling the event is the last thing we'd want to do, and we regret the disappointment this will cause amongst the riders who have entered. Unfortunately it's a risk we simply can't afford to take if the event is to maintain the local goodwill it has built up over many years. I have spoken to local landowners and tenant farmers and the consensus was that we should cancel the race. The race's future depended on us making the right decision," a disappointed Rawnsley said.