For the second time in a matter of weeks some of the streets around the centre of Stirling will be closed for the benefit of sporting competition this weekend as cyclists vie for the titles King and Queen of the Castle.

Less than a month after the highly successful staging of the inaugural Stirling Marathon, the ‘Crit Under the Castle’ brings Criterium style racing to Scotland with tomorrow’s high powered and visually spectacular day of racing that has drawn entries from across the UK.

Now in its fifth year it has doubled as the Scottish Circuit Racing Championships for the past three, while its importance on the calendar has been reinforced this year by the hosting of the only Scottish leg in the six event British Youth Series. The country’s most promising riders will consequently be competing in under-14 and under-16 races.

“The event is unique in a number of ways,” claimed race organiser Norrie Petrie.

“It is the only city centre event for amateur racers in Scotland and the city centre is closed for the full day, with the first race off at 12.30 and the last race finishing at 2115. The circuit is a testing 1.2 miles and includes a cobbled climb up King Street every lap. The women and mens senior races finish on the castle esplanade, after the tough cobbled climb all the way up Spittal Street.”

Petrie noted that there will be particular local interest in the women’s junior competitions with riders from the hosts, Stirling Bike Club, expected to feature.

“Of particular note in the women race are our own Rhona Callander and Jenny Holl,” he said.

“Both girls are part of the British Junior Programme with Rhona about to represent Britain in Youth Commonwealth Games in Bahamas later this summer, but they will be up against stiff competition with Georgina Mansfield who has just won the Scottish Junior Road Race Championships and 25 mile time trial championships among others.”

Criterium road racing is an exciting format of cycle racing held over a short course, usually in a city centre and designed to allow spectators to study leading road racers live in a way that is not possible during the grand tours.

The mile-long closed road circuit for tomorrow’s races starts at the city’s Albert Halls and heads out around the Kings Park area, before returning to the main pedestrian precinct, up a tricky cobbled climb on King Street and then back to the Albert Halls.

For the first races the finish is back at the Albert Halls, but the elite men and women’s races, which will see the King and Queen of the Castle crowned, have a long steep climb all the way up to the finish on the Castle Esplanade giving a spectacular backdrop to end the day’s racing as the sun sets behind Stirling Castle.

Spectators can walk all around the circuit and stand right at the side of the road to cheer on the cyclists as they race by, while there will be an event village on Dumbarton Road by the Albert Halls with stalls, attractions and live commentary.

The way in which Stirling Bike Club has developed the event in line with its own growth, has drawn due praise from its governing body.

“Scottish Cycling works with clubs across Scotland to help develop and grow the sport. Stirling Bike Club is an excellent example of a club which has grown year on year and ‘Crit Under the Castle’ is a testament to that,” said Craig Burn, Scottish Cycling’s chief executive.

“After a successful Scottish National Championship last year, we are delighted that they have brought a British Series event to Scotland. Youth development is incredibly important for the sport and therefore it is one of our aims to bring more British level racing to Scotland. We look forward to seeing the streets of Stirling lined with spectators cheering the riders on.”