“IT really feels like the Farnham Town Centre Races are on the map” was the assessment of one competitor as fast and furious cycle racing returned to the town.

This was the third year of the Farnham Town Centre Races and the event continues to draw in a larger pool of competitors, and more spectators, every year.

The atmosphere was electric on Sunday, July 7, as the racers flew by in a blur of multi-coloured lycra, completing hair-raising technical circuits of the town’s one-way system in reverse across 11 thrilling criterium-style events.

Appropriately staged to coincide with the Tour de France, children cheered the names of their new-found heroes, and many youngsters themselves took part in the children’s races earlier in the evening.

Competitors came not only from local clubs such as VC Meudon, Charlotteville CC and VC Godalming & Haslemere, but also from much further afield such as Solent Pirates, Welwyn Wheelers, London Dynamo, Cotswold Veldrijden, and the Isle of Wight.

Farnham mayor Pat Evans dropped the flag at the start line in South Street.

And in a change to their regular Sunday service, Spire Church hosted race headquarters, offering spectators a prime viewing spot with a barbecue and refreshments from the Spire Café.

The Farnham Town Centre Races provided an exciting conclusion to the Farnham Festival of Cycling, which had kicked off earlier in the day with the Farnham Charity Bike Ride.

*For results and more pictures, see next week’s Herald.