Road Traffic Act 1972

20 Regulation of cycle racing on highways

(1) A person who promotes or takes part in a race or trial of speed on a public highway between cycles, not being motor vehicles, shall be guilty of an offence, unless the race or trial is authorised, and is conducted in accordance with any conditions imposed, by or under regulations under this section.

(2) The Secretary of State may by regulations authorise, or provide for authorising, for the purposes of subsection (1) above, the holding on a public highway other than a bridleway of races or trials of speed of any class or description or a particular race or trial of speed, in such cases as may be prescribed and subject to such conditions as may be imposed by or under the regulations.

(3) Regulations under this section may—

(a) prescribe the procedure to be followed, and the particulars to be given, in connection with applications for authorisation under the regulations, and

(b) make different provision for different classes or descriptions of race or trial.

(4) Without prejudice to any other powers exercisable in that behalf, the chief officer of police may give such directions with respect to the movement of, or the route to be followed by, vehicular traffic, during such period, as may be necessary or expedient to prevent or mitigate congestion or obstruction of traffic, or danger to or from traffic, in consequence of the holding of a race or trial of speed authorised by or under regulations under this section, including a direction that any road or part of a road specified in the direction shall be closed during any such period to vehicles or to vehicles of a class so specified.

(5) In this section " public highway " includes a bridleway but not a footpath.