BRITAIN'S ORIGINAL & BEST FLOODLIT BIKE RACE - SATURDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER 2010

Race History

The Early Days

The event started in 1970 as a means for Michael Jeggo and his late partner Doug Davies to publicise their new company, Davies and Jeggo Motors. The 109 mile road race used a 6 mile circuit, just outside Newport.

Later the course was improved by taking it through Newport High Street. The new circuit was much more crowd-friendly and as a consequence the race grew in stature. Soon the race was attracting Britain's top Pro riders and generating some of the biggest crowds in the UK.

Gradually the race became less the Davies and Jeggo Road Race and more the Newport Road Race as more sponsors became involved.

The Nationals

By the mid 80s Michael was ready for bigger things. He promoted the National Road Race Champs on the same Newport circuit. The race was the best Championship for years. In fact, it was so successful that the Championship came to Newport again for the next 2 years.

However, a new rule meant that no venue could hold the Championship for more than 3 years. What event could top the National Championships? One day his son Nick was driving on the A1 to Yorkshire and noticed the huge industrial lights illuminating the road works and the idea for a Nocturne was born.

The First Nocturnes

The Nocturne was run in 1989, '90 and '91. This was a heyday for Pro cycling and the Nocturnes were played out in front of massive crowds. Unfortunately, a recession meant that some major sponsors were lost. Rather than stage a second rate event, it was decided to cancel the 1992 event.

Ten years later Newport Town Council approached Michael to help put the town back on the map. Their generous grant gave him the foundation to attract new sponsors and re-stage the event.

The New Era

The 2001 race was an outstanding success, and attracted over 10,000 fans. Now a biannual event, the Nocturne introduced several new ideas.

A “Past Masters” race brought back the cycling stars of previous decades. In 2003 cycling superstar, Sean Kelly was generously brought over for the event by local cycling retailer, Parker International.

Giant scales were made so that the winner of the Elite race could win his Weight in Beer”! They do it with cheese in other parts of Europe, who can eat that much cheese?

2005 saw the added attraction of the One Lap Challenge for Britain's Olympic riders. Each rider was followed by a Ferrari with his name emblazoned on the windscreen. This unique showpiece event made the 2005 Nocturne one of the best ever despite the rain.

In 2007 the race featured international stars like Mark Cavendish, David Millar and Geraint Thomas in the “Battle for Beijing” one lap time trial. However, in the Elite race, even these riders couldn’t match evergreen 47 year old Malcolm Elliott as he solo’d to victory.