Restaurant links up with Cycling Club Hackney to help young riders

The Chatsworth Road restaurant have initially supplied a branded quality road bike – a lightweight Pinarello racer – for the club to use in races and training.

The bike, which bears the colours of the sponsor, will be in action soon with young CC Hackney rider Israel Oketade in the saddle. Now he is ready and equipped to go hill climbing this autumn and the remaining 2015 season circuit races.

CC Hackney’s lead coach Keir Apperley said: “Having a bike branded in this way for riders new to cycle sport and quality cycling is special. We aim to roll this out as a way of achieving progress with other businesses in the borough.

“This is so that more young people on CC Hackney’s outreach programme will be able to take up cycle racing on competitive bikes and in the process learn about the responsibilities of working with sponsors.”

Meanwhile, two former CC Hackney members have signed contracts for the World Tour Team Sky.

Alex Peters, who joined from Amsterdam-based SEG Racing Academy, and Tao Geoghegan Hart, have only recently agreed two-year contracts with the giant cycling team.

The news marks a significant development for the Hackney club, pointing to the future and the route to raising more young champions.

Hart said: “To be able to ride alongside some of the best riders in the world will be a huge experience and opportunity to develop as a rider. Professional races are a big step up, but I hope to rise to the challenge and learn as much as possible in the process.”

While Hart finished 15th overall in last year’s Tour of Britain, Peters recently made his Sky debut at the RideLondon-Surrey Classic, and the 21-year-old is keen to create history with his new team.

“I want to succeed as GC rider in the future and I feel Sky is the best platform for me to listen, learn and develop,” said Peters, who won a stage of the Tour de Bretagne in April. “Signing for Team Sky is a dream come true and I can’t wait to start.”