The new criterium race series at the UCLan Sports Arena in Preston is aimed at providing the opportunity for Youth and Senior riders from in and around the North West to compete on one of the best closed circuits in the country every week through spring and summer.

The series is named in memory of Lewis Balyckyi, a promising young cyclist from Preston who was tragically killed in a road traffic accident in 2011. Since then The Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund has been established by Lewis's parents, Kevin and Jacqui Balyckyi. The Fund provides funding for up-and-coming riders to enable them to go over and race in Europe and it also works to raise awareness of cycle safety on the roads through the "Look for Lewis" campaign. More information about the Lewis and the Fund can be found at lbtf.org.

All profits from the series will go straight to the Lewis Balyckyi Trust Fund.

The first 3 weeks of the series will have a Youth race only (due to light restrictions) and then for the remainder of the series there will be a Youth race and a Senior race. The Youth race will be for A and B categories, with separate results produced for each category and gender. The Senior race will be for 2/3/4 categories, except for the third Thursday of each month when it will be an E/1/2/3 race.

For each round, you can either enter online in advance or enter on the day. Entry is £4 online/£6 on the day for the Youth race and £10 online/£12 on the day for the Senior race. Youth riders with dispensation will only be charged £6 to take part in the Senior race. Students can get a £2 discount when a valid NUS card is presented at sign-on (this can be claimed back if they enter online).

All riders wishing to race must register for the league. This can be done online (here) or on the first night that you race.

Sign-on is in the Final Whistle cafe. Sign-on opens at 5:30 and closes 10 minutes before each race.

Refreshments can be purchased in the cafe.

** ENTRIES ON THE DAY ACCEPTED **

Info for Riders

All riders wishing to race must register for the league. This can be done online (here) or on the first night that you race.

Registration consists of a £5 deposit. You will be issued with numbers which you will keep for the duration of the series and then your £5 will be refunded when you return your numbers at the end of the series (or the last time you race).

Each round, the riders who competed will be given league points starting at 200 for 1st then 199 for 2nd, 198 for 3rd etc. These points will then be added up across the series to produce a league ranking. A rider's best 10 rounds will count towards the league ranking.

The Senior league ranking will be for 2/3/4 category riders only. The final round (28th July) will not count towards the league ranking.