PEDAL POWER IN THE PEACE GARDENS

treet-level speed, cobbles, and crowd noise — the Sheffield Grand Prix is easily one of the big dates on my South Yorkshire calendar. No, this isn't a car race; it’s all about the bikes. Whilst the mighty Tour de France thunders its way towards Paris, a very different kind of cycling race rolls into town.

The Sheffield Grand Prix is an annual, high-octane city-centre cycle race that transforms Sheffield’s historic streets into a fast-paced criterium circuit. Serving as a flagship round of the British Cycling National Circuit Series, the event brings elite professional racers face-to-face with thousands of cheering spectators. From cobbled climbs past the Crucible Theatre to a lively event village in Peace Gardens, it combines world-class sport with a vibrant, family-friendly community atmosphere.

​Since launching in 2012, the Sheffield Grand Prix has earned its rep as one of the hardest and fastest street crits in Britain. Over the last decade-plus, its technical cobbled circuit has played host to some of the biggest names in British cycling before they hit the world stage — including Olympic champions Tom Pidcock and Katie Archibald, double World Champ Lucy Garner, and local legends like Dean Downing and Graham Briggs.

Rags at our first race in 2014
(She was 12)

​I first attended back in 2014 and, save for a couple of missed years, it has been an annual pilgrimage for me together with my youngest daughter, Rags. Last year she brought her son, my grandson Atreus, for his first cycle race. He joined us again this year, firmly cementing this as a proper multi-generational family tradition.

​Things were a bit of a rush this time around — Rags had only just landed back from a trip to Spain, and I was working during the day. We caught the X2 bus, which dropped us off right at the edge of the action. The city was absolutely buzzing, packed with crowds waiting for the night's racing to kick off. The main highlights were the Women’s Race (Schwalbe Women’s Grand Prix) followed by the Men's Open Race (Grasscrete Open Grand Prix). Atreus got straight into the spirit of it, clapping and cheering the riders on every lap.

​The Women's Race was taken by Katie Scott (DAS–Hutchinson), who launched an early break to claim a massive solo victory by 37 seconds. After that, we shifted closer to the finish line by the Peace Gardens — landing right opposite the VIP area where triple Olympic Champion (and local Barnsley lad) Ed Clancy was standing.

Women's race flying up Surrey Street

​The Men's Open race was a relentless, fast-paced affair, with a four-man breakaway quickly pulling away from the main peloton. The win went to Ollie Wood (Rapha Cycling Club), who outsprinted the break to reclaim the Sheffield crown, seven years on from his previous victory here back in 2019.

The Men racing on Pinstone Street into
Peace Gardens

​With the racing wrapped up, we were running dangerously close to our bus home. We made a mad dash for the stop with a very tired Atreus in tow and just managed to leap on board.

I was still buzzing by the time we got back home to a very patient dog waiting for his evening walk. What an amazing night of live sport — we’re dead lucky to have an event like this right on our doorstep. I can't wait for more next year!

The spirit of the Urban Viking—and the occasional absurdity of navigating the modern world—lives on in my webcomic, Northman. 

You can read the latest chapter here: northman.kirt.me.uk

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