The Pearl Izumi Tour Series will race back into Peterborough this summer, as the city welcomes the return of Britain’s leading cycle race Series on Tuesday May 20.
It’s been revelaed at a launch today (April 1) that round three of the unique, team-based series will again take place in the heart of the city centre, using the same clockwise circuit that was popular with spectators on previous visits to Peterborough.
Pearl Izumi Tour Series riders Steve and Laura Massey and their bicycles officially launched the series joined by Peterborough Phantoms players Matthew Coleman and Darren Brown and Paralympic cyclist Craig Green. Both will be part of teams using the course for competition – along with a trikes and karts relay – before the main event on May 20.
Britain’s leading male cyclists will be in action and the women’s Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series will also be showcased to celebrate the return of elite cycling to the city.
Annette Joyce, Head of Commercial Operations at Peterborough City Council, told ESP – “I am delighted that once again Peterborough will be playing host to world class cycling. The Pearl Izumi Tour Series takes place in the heart of our beautiful city centre, generating a buzz of excitement and bringing a wealth of economic benefits with it.
“The series is a fantastic opportunity to raise interest in cycling and the benefits of keeping fit and healthy to improve our wellbeing. We are grateful to the Travelchoice team for providing the money to host both the men’s and women’s races and for the opportunity for local organisations to use the course for their own competitions before the main event.
“The event always creates an amazing atmosphere and it is fantastic how the city is showcased by ITV4 who film the event for it to be transmitted to a national audience the very next day.”
The ESP team have been along to the previous races and can vouch for the fact that it creates an amazing buzz right in the heart of the city centre! It’s an exciting spectacle whether you’re a big fan of cycling or not.
Local Eye-based rider Steve Lampier of the Velosure Giordana team is a former winner of the Sprints Jersey in the Series is looking forward to again racing in Peterborough.
“It is great to be back racing in Peterborough, not only because it’s my adopted home city now, but the support for all the teams and riders has always been phenomenal there, and the circuit makes for great racing.”
Racing not far from home is Cambridge rider Laura Massey of the Epic Cycles – Scott Contessa Women’s Race Team. Laura will be eyeing another podium place after several second places in the Series in the last two years.
Also on the start line will be past individual winners of the Peterborough event, including Graham Briggs and Dean Downing, plus Olympic Champion Ed Clancy, who won the individual race in 2012, the last time The Pearl Izumi Tour Series raced through the heart of Peterborough.
Disability charity Inspire Peterborough will be organising a wheelchair relay race as a prelude to the main men’s and women’s Tour series races. The action starts at approximately 2.15pm and will be led by the GB Sledge Hockey team who will be challenging other teams from around the country.
Taking part in the challenge will be Peterborough Phantoms players Matthew Coleman and Darren Brown. Both have represented the GB team at a number of international competitions in recent years.
The course will also be used by local cycling clubs including Greenwheel Cycles and their Rio 2016 Paralympic hopeful Craig Green. Craig switched from football to cycling last year and is already closing in on the country’s top disabled cyclists.
In addition, there will be a trikes and karts workplace challenge on the course, which is open for up to 12 teams of three. The teams will race on a time trial basis in a relay format to determine the race winner.
Highlights of the Peterborough event will be shown on ITV4 on the evening of Wednesday May 21.
Past winners of the competition are Team Halfords Bikehut (2009), Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta (2010), Rapha Condor Sharp (2011), Endura Racing (2012) and Team UK Youth (2013).