61-574: NICF may refer to: Northern Ireland Cycling Federation Maleamate amidohydrolase , an enzyme Topics referred to by the same term [REDACTED] This disambiguation page lists articles associated with the title NICF . If an internal link led you here, you may wish to change the link to point directly to the intended article. Retrieved from " https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=NICF&oldid=933016646 " Category : Disambiguation pages Hidden categories: Short description
122-616: A café before being demolished in the 1930s to improve traffic flow. The bridge was also widened in 1873 and again in 1968, using masonry which blended in with the older structure. It is a Grade I listed structure and a Scheduled Ancient Monument . Plas Newydd ("New Mansion" or "New Place") high on the outskirts of the town, was from 1780 the home of the Ladies of Llangollen (the Honourable Sarah Ponsonby and Lady Eleanor Butler) and their maid Mary Carryl . They share
183-782: A design later known as Lotus 108 . Llangollen Llangollen ( Welsh: [ɬaŋˈɡɔɬɛn] ) is a town and community , situated on the River Dee , in Denbighshire , Wales . Its riverside location forms the edge of the Berwyn range , and the Dee Valley section of the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty , with the easternmost point of the Dee Valley Way being within
244-568: A dominant force in cycling. In 2001, two key members of staff were appointed, with Dave Brailsford becoming Performance Director for the World Class Performance Programme and Heiko Salzwedel joining as National Track Manager. In July 2002 the Talent Team programme was launched, which aimed to discover new riders through working with schools: riders identified through the initiative who have enjoyed success at
305-589: A frosty response from AusCycling (the cycling governing body of Australia) to the point they confirmed to Australian media that they were actively considering enforcing for a two-year 'non-competition order' on Richardson which would stop Richardson from competing in international competitions for Great Britain until 2026. British Cycling administers road racing , track cycling , cyclo-cross , BMX , mountain biking (including trials riding ), cycle speedway , and in Scotland, road time trials . The main exception
366-590: A holiday destination. Moorings at Llangollen Wharf and additional moorings in a marina are built at the end of the generally-navigable section, allowing visitors arriving by narrowboat to moor overnight in Llangollen. The canal then extends 1.7 miles, north and then west, to Horseshoe Falls in a section navigable only by a horse-drawn excursion boat. Llangollen on the River Dee hosts white water Slalom canoeing and kayaking , being host to International and UK events. The International Canoe Federation (ICF),
427-456: A key role in redesigning equipment and clothing to maximise efficiency. British Cycling continues to work with NASA , McLaren Group and many other organisations to improve track speeds. In the late 2000s, the team consisted of riders as Sir Chris Hoy , Victoria Pendleton , Bradley Wiggins , and Rebecca Romero . This success has continued in road racing with riders such as Nicole Cooke and Mark Cavendish . British cycling has also formed
488-808: A medical tribunal which include lying to colleagues and the UK Anti-Doping Agency. In 2022, British Cycling suspended its 'Transgender and Non-Binary Participation policy' to conform with the requirements of the UCI , resulting in transgender cyclist Emily Bridges being ineligible for the British National Madison Championships . The suspension of the policy led to a sponsor of the Women's CiCLE Classic to withdraw in protest. In September 2022, British Cycling faced widespread ridicule after issuing guidance that following
549-411: A new wheel research by Hope Technology and a collaboration with Lotus Cars permitted British Cycling to adopt an original wide-stay design for the bike's frame and front forks. British Cycling has also enjoyed notable successes at previous Olympic Games , with some successes attributed to their superior bike designs. This was most notable in the 1992 Summer Olympics , where British Cycling unveiled
610-485: A professional cycling team with BSkyB as the main sponsor and Bradley Wiggins as the team leader and David Brailsford as the manager. In 2012, Bradley Wiggins became the first British cyclist to win the Tour de France . This was followed the next year when Chris Froome won the 2013 Tour de France. Team Sky is registered as a UCI ProTeam . Recent years have also seen British dominance in downhill mountain biking , in both
671-722: A rival governing body existed, the Northern Ireland Cycling Federation. It was affiliated to British Cycling, causing friction between the British body and the international federation, the UCI. British Cycling represents the cycling associations of British overseas territories in the UCI, if they are not themselves UCI members. The Gibraltar Cycling Association is the regional governing body for Gibraltar. International performances have improved since British Cycling began receiving National Lottery funding in
SECTION 10
#1732790492082732-531: A training base in Tuscany from 2006 to 2010, and has since returned to Italy, basing itself in Montichiari since 2016. Other notable riders who participated in the academy programme include Kennaugh, Geraint Thomas , Ian Stannard , Ben Swift and Simon Yates . That year Keen left his role, whilst continuing to work with British Cycling in a consultancy capacity until the 2004 Summer Olympics : Brailsford
793-748: Is a member of the European Cycling Union , the UCI and the British Olympic Association . BSkyB sponsored British Cycling from 2008 to 2016. HSBC is British Cycling's Lead Partner for the period 2017 to 2024. In 2017, British Cycling faced criticism from UK Sport over alleged bullying, unlawful discrimination and "dysfunctional leadership". Also in 2017, the Guardian describes how Mark Cavendish and Bradley Wiggins feel as though they have been overlooked by British cycling when they were not selected to compete in
854-732: Is different from Wikidata All article disambiguation pages All disambiguation pages Northern Ireland Cycling Federation British Cycling (formerly the British Cycling Federation ) is the main national governing body for cycle sport in Great Britain . It administers most competitive cycling in Great Britain, the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man . It represents Britain at
915-476: Is located near its easternmost end [Grid Ref: SJ 2459 4287]. The ancient parish of Llangollen was divided into three traeanau ( traean being the Welsh for "a third"): Llangollen Traean, Trefor Traean, and Glyn Traean. Valle Crucis Abbey [Grid Ref: SJ 20441 44168] was established at Llantysilio in about 1201, under the patronage of Madog ap Gruffydd Maelor of Castell Dinas Brân. The bridge at Llangollen
976-640: Is no regional body for England. England is not recognised as a region by the UCI, and there is no English cycling team outside the Commonwealth Games . For those occasions, British Cycling selects and supports the England team. Cycling is represented on the Isle of Man by the Isle of Man Cycling Association . Cycling in Northern Ireland is organised under Cycling Ulster, part of the all-Ireland governing body Cycling Ireland . Until 2006,
1037-768: Is road time trials in England and Wales , which are administered by Cycling Time Trials , the current name of the Road Time Trials Council. Only road time-trials in England and Wales remain outside British Cycling, but Cycling Time Trials works with British Cycling to organise the time-trial national championships. Cycling clubs or teams affiliate to British Cycling to race in British Cycling events. Adult road racing licences are graded by excellence, from fourth and lowest to first and élite. There are licences for under-18s and for women. British Cycling
1098-476: The 2007 Tour de France and 2014 Tour de France were deemed to be a tremendous success, the latter being described by race director Christian Prudhomme , as 'the best ever!', over 4.8 million people lined the route, over a three-day period. On 17 December 2009, the names of fifty one people to be inducted into the British Cycling Hall of Fame were announced. The newly established hall of fame
1159-692: The Beeching Axe of 1964, the line closed to passengers in early 1965, and to freight in April 1969. The line was lifted in May 1969. However, a 10-mile stretch of the line between Llangollen and Corwen has been restored and operates as the Llangollen Railway , a tourist attraction. In 2002, the Rainhill locomotive trials were re-staged on the line. The Ellesmere Canal was intended to connect
1220-683: The Downhill World Cup and Downhill World Championships . In 2014, all three female podium positions, and the top two male positions, in the Downhill World Championships were taken by British athletes. At 2024 Olympics Great Britain were knocked off the top of the Cycling Olympic Medal table for the time since the Athens 2004 games having finished with eleven medals total but only two golds as
1281-691: The coal mines and ironworks at Ruabon and Wrexham to the canal network and thence to the sea via the River Mersey and the River Severn . The plans were altered, and instead of connecting Trevor northwards to the sea via the River Dee and southwards to the Severn, the canal ran eastwards to join the national network at Hurleston Junction on the Shropshire Union Canal near Nantwich . A feeder canal, navigable to Llangollen,
SECTION 20
#17327904920821342-473: The 1940s, it was its function as a water supply which kept it open. The canal is unusual amongst Britain's artificial waterways in having a strong flow (up to 2 miles per hour). Since the use of canals for leisure took off in the 1970s and 1980s, the route, roughly parallel to the river Dee and across the Dee Valley on the Pontcysyllte Aqueduct , is an important part of Llangollen's attraction as
1403-728: The British Cycling Federation. It accepted racing on the open road and controlled all competitive cycling other than time-trialling, which remained with the RTTC. Cyclo-cross was administered by the British Cyclo-Cross Association, which was linked to the BCF. The BCF was recognised by the UCI. The first officials were perceived to be drawn largely from the NCU and there was bitterness among supporters of
1464-683: The British team were overhauled by other teams inclusing old rivals Australia and Netherlands. Following the 2024 Olympics it was announced that British-born track cyclist Matthew Richardson , who won three medals whilst representing Australia during the 2024 Olympics would be switching allegiance to the country of his birth and would represent Great Britain in international competition from September 2024 onwards. Richardson won 10 medals in international competition whilst representing his previous country including 3 Olympic medals, 5 World Championship medals (including one gold) and two Commonwealth medals (both of which were gold medals). This announcement drew
1525-525: The Damned , Cerys Matthews , Tracey Emin , Damien Hirst , Juan Martín , the Black Seeds , John Cooper Clarke , Will Self , Gang of Four , Lee Scratch Perry , Victoria Coren Mitchell and Gruff Rhys . Dee Rocks is a local fundraising music festival, usually held during May when the town hall is transformed into a music venue. Llangollen was an important coaching stop for the mail coach on
1586-630: The European Canoe Union (ECU) and the British Canoe Union (BCU) all hold events in Llangollen. Cricket , football and rugby union teams play at Tower Fields, which overlooks the town and the International Eisteddfod field and pavilion. Thermals rising up the valley sides to the south of the town are used for paragliding . Mountain bikers enjoy the hills. Llangollen was the starting point of
1647-616: The GB team sprint squad took the first British sprint medal at a World Championship for 40 years at the Berlin Track Worlds . The first fruits of the programme were harvested at the 2000 Summer Olympics : on the track, Team GB took two bronzes, a silver and a gold medal, the latter of which was taken by Jason Queally in the 1 km time trial . Following the Games, Keen started speaking publicly about what Britain needed to do to become
1708-926: The Presidency in late 1995 on a platform of increasing transparency and accountability in the Federation: the campaign to remove him was based on claims that he had failed to declare his role as a consultant to a company that wanted to act as the promoter for the 1996 UCI Track Cycling World Championships in Manchester. In December 1996, the report of auditors from the UK Sports Council into the Federation's finances and management found that there were serious shortcomings in its procedures for accounting and control of finances and potential conflicts of interests between board members and leading companies in
1769-621: The Tokyo Olympics. Wiggins went as far as to say that he felt that British cycling were lacking in 'someone who actually knows what they're talking about'. The organisation has also been criticised during the "Combatting Doping in Sport inquiry" of the House of Commons, particularly in relation to the supply of fluimucil to Bradley Wiggins in 2011. In 2019, 22 charges were brought against former British Cycling doctor Richard Freeman by
1830-716: The clock at dawn and in secrecy, to avoid police attention. The NCU eventually accepted the RTTC and the two organisations ran the sport between them, the RTTC interested only in time-trialling and the NCU administering track races and representing Britain at meetings of the UCI. Infighting was sparked by the UCI's decision that world road championships from 1933 would be not individual contests but competitions in which riders started together. The NCU had never been against such races but insisted that in Britain they were on roads closed to traffic, such as airfields and motor-racing courses. It now had to select riders not on their talent against
1891-520: The clock but in a bunch. Selection races were held at Donington Park and Brooklands . Among the riders were some, like Percy Stallard , who believed races ought to be run on the open road. He organised a race from Llangollen to Wolverhampton , in 1942. The NCU suspended Stallard and others and they formed the British League of Racing Cyclists (BLRC). It and the NCU fought each other until they merged in 1959. The merged organisation became
NICF - Misplaced Pages Continue
1952-461: The cycling sector. The board were then removed by the membership and replaced with an emergency management committee. As a result of the report, Minister for Sport Iain Sproat warned that the BCF's Sports Council grants could be withdrawn and that it could be banned from applying for Lottery money. Brian Cookson was elected as president soon afterwards: he described the organisation's situation at
2013-620: The death of Queen Elizabeth II that cyclists should avoid cycling during the funeral "out of respect"; British Cycling subsequently amended its position after a widespread backlash. In October 2022, British Cycling faced a barrage of criticism on the announcement that it would be entering into a major partnership with the oil company Shell , with Greenpeace calling it "brazen sportswashing". In Scotland and Wales , British Cycling operates with regional bodies: Scottish Cycling (Scottish Cyclists' Union) and Welsh Cycling (Welsh Cycling Union). Scotland and Wales run national teams. There
2074-610: The final technical polish, whilst building up training loads to those likely to be experienced by the senior elite athletes. Riders aged typically 16 to 18, who are already experienced and focused on a career in professional cycling. The programme aims to add technical experience, including experience of preparing for major (junior) championships, plus conditioning. Athletes are typically still in education and focus on intense training camps, whilst still living at home. A regionally based programme aimed at finding talented young riders, typically aged 14–16 and preparing them for transition to
2135-464: The first six riders joined British Cycling's new Olympic Academy for junior riders, under the leadership of Rod Ellingworth , with a budget of £100,000 for the first year. Among the first cohort were Ed Clancy and Mark Cavendish , although the latter was almost passed over due to his relatively poor performance in lab tests, with coaches Ellingworth, John Herety and Simon Lillistone lobbying Keen to include him due to his potential. The academy used
2196-506: The focus of the Plan, emphasising that it would mainly be aimed at targeting track cycling due to the large number of Olympic medals on offer. He spent much of the next year developing an eight-year plan to secure longer-term funding: in January 1999 it was announced that British Cycling had secured lottery funding for six years, with an award of £2.5 million for the first year. Later that year,
2257-589: The following Sunday. It opens with a parade led by the Llangollen Silver Band, in which both locals and visitors take part in dancing, singing, and playing musical instruments. The Llangollen Fringe Festival is an independent arts festival, usually held in mid July in the town hall. The Fringe includes music, comedy, theatre, dance and workshops. Artists who have taken part in the Llangollen Fringe include Clement Freud , Rhys Ifans ,
2318-635: The former BLRC that they had been betrayed. The BCF had offices in central London. The first were in the headquarters of the Sports Council in Park Crescent, near Hyde Park . They subsequently moved to other London premises on Brompton Road and Upper Woburn Place , before moving out of the capital to Rockingham Road , Kettering , Northamptonshire in 1988, and finally to the velodrome in Manchester . The British Cycling Federation
2379-462: The higher programmes. Athletes competing in four disability categories, primarily in track, road-race and time-trial disciplines. Britain has hosted stages of the Tour de France on four occasions. The 1974 Tour de France , was not particularly well received. The 1994 Tour de France also visited the UK. Due to the improved popularity of cycling, and the international achievements of British cyclists,
2440-525: The highest level include Dani Rowe , Laura Kenny , Peter Kennaugh , Elinor Barker and Lizzie Deignan . After a disappointing performance at the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester, the squad bounced back at the Track World Championships , where they finished second in the medal table with three gold medals. That year also saw the appointment of Shane Sutton in Manchester, having previously been Welsh national coach. In 2003,
2501-486: The late 1990s. It won three golds in the 2002 world track championships and four in 2005. Britain won nine of 18 gold medals at the 2008 world track championships. In September 2004, British Cycling helped organise the Tour of Britain , a five-day race finishing in London . Riders in this programme are expected to be seasoned world-class performers with a track record of success at the highest level. Athletes are full-time on
NICF - Misplaced Pages Continue
2562-551: The old mail route which is now the A5 from London to Holyhead . Various buses serve the town, including buses to Wrexham (Arriva service 5), Barmouth (TrawsCymru service T3) and the Ceiriog Valley . Services 5 and T3 connect Llangollen to Ruabon and Wrexham, which have the closest railway stations on the national network. The Dee Valley Picturesque Bus (service 199) operates between April and November, linking Llangollen and
2623-560: The police. Often horse-mounted policemen charged at racers and threw sticks into their wheels." The race organiser and writer, Chas Messenger , said: "Thousands of cyclists were convicted or fined for dangerous riding, many on mere suspicion and unsupported evidence." The NCU banned all racing on the road and insisted clubs use velodromes . A rebel organisation, eventually known as the Road Time Trials Council (RTTC), began running races of individuals competing against
2684-467: The programme and generally based near the team's Manchester HQ. Athletes may also be members of professional (trade) teams, receiving additional support from the programme. Athletes on this programme include Olympic champions Jason Kenny, Laura Trott and Philip Hindes as well as Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins. Riders aged typically 18 to 23 and exceptional athletes with the clear potential to become world-class performers. The programme aims to add
2745-522: The same grave memorial in the church. Elevated on the opposite side of the Dee is Castell Dinas Brân, the ruins of a medieval castle built by the Princes of Powys Fadog . The Pillar of Eliseg [Grid Ref: SJ 20267 44528] is another ancient monument located 400m NNW of Valle Crucis Abbey. Llangollen Community Hospital was completed in 1876. There is an electoral ward of Denbighshire County Council of
2806-421: The same name. This ward includes Llantysilio community and has a total population taken at the 2011 census of 4,079. Llangollen Town Council is based at Llangollen Town Hall . Today Llangollen relies heavily on the tourist industry , but still gains substantial income from farming . Most of the farms in the hills around the town were sheep farms , and the domestic wool industry , both spinning and weaving,
2867-476: The sport. The governing body since 1878 had been the National Cyclists Union (NCU). The legality of cyclists on the road had not been established and the NCU worried that all cycling could be affected by police concerns about racing. The cycling historian Bernard Thompson said: "Events organised by clubs in the 1880s, although taking place on quiet country roads, were constantly interrupted by
2928-420: The squad. From 2004 to 2009, it came top of the medals tally for three out of six UCI Track Cycling World Championships . The team is noted for its distinctive high performance equipment. From the early days of Keen's tenure, they worked with outside firms to produce more aerodynamic bicycles and bicycle parts. They started using their own Sport Institute bicycles in 2002, and subsequently Chris Boardman played
2989-558: The surrounding villages to popular local attractions including Pontcysyllte Aqueduct, Wenffrwd Nature Reserve, Horseshoe Falls, Valle Crucis Abbey, Plas Newydd house and the Horseshoe Pass. The railway, operating both passenger and goods services, was extended from Ruabon , via Acrefair and Trevor, to reach Llangollen by 1865. The Ruabon to Barmouth Line became part of the Great Western Railway . However under
3050-537: The time as "close to bankruptcy, 14,000 members and falling, one Olympic gold in 76 years and not much else to show. It was pretty dire". In December 1997, British Cycling appointed Peter Keen as its Performance Director, with initial responsibility for £900,000 of funding granted by the UK Sports Council on the basis of a one-year interim World Class Performance Plan. He was chosen ahead of Steve Paulding and Paul Sherwen . Keen immediately outlined
3111-583: The town to the north is Castell Dinas Brân , a stronghold of the Princes of Powys . Beyond the castle is the impressive Lower Carboniferous limestone escarpment known as the Eglwyseg Rocks. The outcrop continues north to World's End in Wrexham . The single track road north of the castle forms the Panorama Walk , and a monument to poet I. D. Hooson from the village of Rhosllannerchrugog
SECTION 50
#17327904920823172-623: The town. It had a population of 3,658 at the 2011 census. Llangollen takes its name from the Welsh llan meaning "a religious settlement" and Saint Collen , a 7th-century monk who founded a church beside the river. St Collen is said to have arrived in Llangollen by coracle . St Collen’s Church is the only church in Wales dedicated to St Collen, and he may have had connections with Colan in Cornwall and with Langolen in Brittany . Above
3233-430: The world body, the Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI) and selects national teams, including the Great Britain (GB) Cycling Team for races in Britain and abroad. As of 2020 , it has a total membership of 165,000. It is based at the National Cycling Centre on the site of the 2002 Commonwealth Games in Manchester. The British Cycling Federation (BCF) was formed in 1959 at the end of an administrative dispute within
3294-409: The world number one nation in track cycling. The team backed up their Olympic success at the subsequent 2000 UCI Track Cycling World Championships on home ground in Manchester by winning five medals, including a first world title for Yvonne McGregor in the individual pursuit. From 2001 to the present day, British cycling has greatly improved its standing in world track cycling and is now considered
3355-401: Was appointed as his replacement. At the 2004 Athens Olympics cycling events , Great Britain came third in the medal table: they took two golds, a silver and a bronze, with Bradley Wiggins taking one medal of each colour - the first British Olympian to do this in 40 years. Brailsford gave much of the credit for the team's results to the psychiatrist Steve Peters , who had started working with
3416-401: Was built across the Dee in the 16th century to replace a previous bridge built in about 1345 by John Trevor , of Trevor Hall (later Bishop of St Asaph ), which replaced an even earlier bridge built in the reign of King Henry I . In the 1860s the present bridge was extended by adding an extra arch (to cross the new railway) and a two-storey stone tower with a castellated parapet. This became
3477-447: Was constructed from Trevor to tap water from the River Dee at Llantysilio (at the weir called " Horseshoe Falls "). After company mergers, the canal became part of the Shropshire Union System. Until recently it was properly called the Llangollen Branch of the Shropshire Union Canal, though it is now known as the Llangollen Canal . The canal supplied enough Dee water to supply Crewe and Nantwich , and when commercial traffic failed in
3538-409: Was created as part of British Cycling's 50th anniversary celebrations. Further names were added in 2014 and 2016 British Cycling has an active Research and Development department for developing track bikes for upcoming Olympic games. Tony Purnell is the current Head of Technology. British Cycling released a radically original design for the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo. The bike itself included
3599-403: Was held on the Hermitage Field, next to Plas Newydd, and the circle of stones was later moved into the grounds of the hall. The eisteddfod itself took place on the old Vicarage Field at Fronhyfryd and was visited by David Lloyd George , accompanied by Winston Churchill . The annual Llangollen International Eisteddfod is a large international music festival. It starts on a Tuesday and ends on
3660-456: Was important in the area for centuries. Several factories were later built along the banks of the River Dee, where both wool and cotton were processed. The water mill opposite Llangollen railway station is over 600 years old, and was originally used to grind flour for local farmers. In the late 19th century, Llangollen had a weekly newspaper, the Llangollen Advertiser . Llangollen hosted the National Eisteddfod in 1908. The Gorsedd ceremony
3721-468: Was renamed simply British Cycling after it merged with the British Cyclo-Cross Association, the British Mountain Bike Federation, the English BMX Association and the British Cycle Speedway Council. Each is now a commission within the BCF. In 1996, the BCF incurred large debts as a result of a legal dispute with Tony Doyle , who resigned from his position as President of the Federation shortly after its Board attempted to remove him. Doyle had been elected to
SECTION 60
#1732790492082#81918