The Mr Porter London Nocturne returns this year on the 4th June, with the ten-year anniversary edition being celebrated alongside a change in location from Smithfield Market to the heart of the City.
A launch party at Rapha Cycle Club in Spitalfields gathered a host of event partners and industry personnel to begin the run-up to the event on Thursday. There, Nocturne founder James Pope was joined by Simon Mottram of Rapha and Grant Young of Condor to look back on ten years of the event, as well as ahead to the 2016 edition.
Of course, the biggest change will be the event location, with its traditional home of Smithfield Market being switched for the streets of the City, and a circuit that will take in St Pauls Cathedral and the Square Mile, with the finish line on Cheapside. The grandstand, an expo area, big screens and pits will be located in the shadow of St Pauls, and as the official media partner to the event, Cyclist readers can get 15% off Race Club tickets by following this link.
Headlining the elite races will be Olympic champion and 2015 Nocturne winner Ed Clancy in the men's event and Paralympic champion Sarah Storey in the women's, with further headline names Nicola Juniper (2014 winner & women's national circuit race champion) and soon-to-be Team Sky rider Owain Doull also competing.
'It was fantastic to win the race last year so we will definitely be looking to repeat that again in 2016' said Clancy. 'The new course looks interesting, and technical, so should make an exciting race. The Nocturne is always a great atmosphere so the team are looking forward to it.'
As well as the elite races, the usual mix of novelty competitions will feature the Penny Farthing Race, the Pedalsure Folding Bike Race, Concours d’Elegance (judged on style) and the Santander Cycle Hire Race.
Attendance is free, but Cyclist readers can obtain a 15% discount on Race Club tickets here. We'll see you on the 4th June.
