Paralympic cycle star to start this year’s Rochdale Grand Prix

Simon Jackson MBE competing at the Paralympic World Cup

Simon Jackson MBE will be a guest of honour at the Rochdale Grand Prix scheduled to take place in Rochdale town centre on Wednesday 1 July and will start all three races alongside the Mayor of Rochdale, Councillor Keith Swift.

Visually impaired Simon is Great Britain’s most successful judo athlete of all time with 3 paralympic, 3 world and 16 european gold medals in an astonishing career lasting 20 years. He has recently taken the cycling world by storm by taking double gold in tandem cycling at the Paralympic World Cup held last month in Manchester.

The Rochdale Grand Prix is one of eleven races in the country in British Cycling’s Elite Men’s Circuit Race Series.

The event brings to Rochdale streets some of the UK’s biggest teams and top names and dramatic high speed action.

The Rochdale course, with its steep climbs and narrow corners is especially challenging for anything up to 100 riders taking part.

The evening includes two main races, the support race at 7pm and the elite riders at 8pm with starts and finishes on The Butts. A youth event will take place at 6pm.

Link4Life – the Borough’s Cultural Trust – will be staging a ‘Pedal Power’ Action Zone on the Butts from 2pm with free activities for all ages. Inside the marquees there will be fun events plus competitions and prizes including indoor cycling and rowing, target wall and dance mat sessions. A BMX demonstration will be an added attraction.

Simon Jackson will be available throughout the evening giving a chance to see some of the medals from his vast collection.

All Rochdale town centre parking is free if you arrive after 3pm.