Tom Simpson Retro 13th September 2026

Cycling UK East Midlands Region Chair Ian Prince and Secretary Tim Newbery took part in the 2026 Tom Simpson Retro Cycle Ride which was held at Harworth on Sunday 13th September. This event was part of the The Tom Simpson Cycling Festival, held between Sunday 6th and Sunday 13th September in celebration of one of Britain's most successful cyclists. 

ABOUT TOM SIMPSON

Courtesy Cycling Weekly and Doncaster Free Press.

As a youngster, Tom Simpson delivered groceries around the houses of Harworth and the Bassetlaw district, but he would go on to become a road-racing world champion, Olympic and Commonwealth medalist and, in 1962, the first British rider to ever wear the leader's yellow jersey in the Tour de France.

Tragically, during the 13th stage of the 1967 Tour de France, 29-year-old Tom Simpson collapsed and died during the climb of Mont Ventoux, having suffered heart failure, which was officially recorded as having been caused by exhaustion.

Chris Sidwell, Tom's nephew and the event lead organiser, has announced that a new museum entirely dedicated to British bike racing is being planned for Harworth. It's thought that it'll be called the 'British Cycle Racing Museum' rather than being named after Tom himself. “There are cycling museums in the UK, but nothing dedicated to this telling the story of British racing," says Chris Sidwell, who came up with the concept of the museum.

“I thought that Harworth, the place where Tom comes from, was the ideal place for it to be. This is where the British men's yellow jerseys story started."

The plans have evolved to go beyond simply a museum, as Sidwell explains. "It will also be a community centre that will encourage cycling. We've got all sorts of little bolt-ons. We trying to connect up to the national cycle network as well from the site. We've built a green wheel cycleway around Harworth.

"We're trying to make it a destination. It's going to become a cycling town. It was a coal mining town. We haven't got coal anymore, we've got cycling - so we're selling cycling."

THE RETRO CYCLE RIDE

Tim Newbery would be riding his 1982 Mercian 'King of Mercia' and Ian Prince would be riding his 1983 Harry Hall (all bikes were required to be pre 1995). 

Arriving early for the 10 am departure, the rain was just clearing and the forecast looked promising. Dry and bright with some sunshine at times in a light westerly breeze. Cups of coffee and pastries from the refreshment van went down well whilst looking around at the trade stalls set up in the Harworth and  Bircotes Civic Square. Lead organiser Chris Sidwell had put on a great event and we would find that the signage of the route by Natalie was faultless, junctions and turnings triple marked so no mistake could be made. 

A large selection of classic and retro bikes lined up at the start with 'Team Peugeot' looking particularly resplendent. Tom Simpson was sponsored by Peugeot, and the car that supported him in his racing years led the race. 

Our route (we chose to ride the 40 mile 'Chemin de Simpson') would initially take us eastbound through Scrooby, famed of course for being one of the centres for the English Protestant separatist movement in the 17th Century with a number of its inhabitants emigrating to Holland and eventually to America as the 'Pilgrim Fathers'.

Onwards to Drakeholes with Ian continuing his historical commentary whilst we passed by and over the Chesterfield Canal. Very scenic. Ian will soon be attending the Chesterfield Canal Trust’s 50th Anniversary event at Clayworth where it was founded at the boat club. Ian also pointed out the unusual large dressed boulder embedded into the boundary wall of Saint Peter's Church, Clayworth. A local legend says that navvies building the nearby Chesterfield Canal in 1777 found and placed the boulder in the wall to remember a fellow worker who died on the job. Probably a glacial erratic though some say it's a meteorite. 

A steep incline of Haughgate Hill to North Wheatley would be the biggest of the ride (pales into insignificance with Mont Ventoux!). Ian had just been recounting that this had been an area where he used to pick the very best strawberries, when we came across the village sign which incorporated strawberries into its design.  

Onwards to Sturton le Steeple, making our way slowly towards the River Trent and a welcome refreshment break at the Village Hall in Beckingham. Up to this point we had passed by several solo riders or groups repairing punctures and here, one participant was arranging alternative transport back to base. Flapjacks, cakes, fruit and crisps along with unlimited tea and coffee were on offer, sufficient for the remaining journey.

Arriving at the junction of the Chesterfield Canal with the the River Trent at West Stockwith, we enjoyed fine views of the moorings at the Basin. Local architecture was also of interest, Dutch gables on both sides of the river evidence of the Dutch influence on this area with Dutch engineer Sir Cornelius Vermuyden instrumental in the drainage schemes between 1627-1629. 

Whilst the 50 mile route continued to Epworth, our 40 mile route would take us to Graizelound in the Isle of Axholme, a familiar area for Cycling UK Gainsborough. Perhaps we'd meet them on the ride. Not too far from here is Haxey, Ian mentioning that it's most notable for 'The Haxey Hood', a 700 year old game that's more of a rugby scrum, with the leather 'hood' being pushed to one of the four pubs in town every January! 

Passing on through the flatland rural hamlets such as Misson Springs and Newington and with the River Idle flowing nearby, roads were unusually quiet. With the miles ticking over, finally, we'd enter the conurbations of of Doncaster and Bawtry and our last leg of the route back to Harworth and Bircotes Town Hall, crossing the finishing line at around 1.45 pm. Doing the honour of presenting the medals was Tom Simpson's daughter, Joanne who'd flown in from her home in Belgium. A charming lady, she was the epitome of smiles and encouragement, high fiving a young lad on a clunky town bike who'd just come to look. He'd never heard of Tom Simpson but was in awe of the spectacle going on and maybe next year he'll be inspired to take part in one of the rides. 

The judging of the Best in Show Competition took place at 2 pm, sponsored and judged by Bill Barrowcliff. Tim was astonished to have his name mentioned for runner up best newcomer for his Mercian. No prize but great to get a mention.