Thursday, 16th April, 2009
As we enter into the final preparation stages of the Tour Series 10 professional cycling teams are fine tuning their riders, drilling their squads and getting ready for the gladiatorial battles in the 10 towns and cities selected to host this fast and furious bike racing series.

The Tour Series team line-up contains the UK’s best elite cycling teams and within those teams are some of the greatest road and track racing talent that the UK has produced in the last 20 years. From Olympians Chris Newton, Rob Hayles and Ed Clancy, to domestic-dominator Russell Downing, going head-to-head with his brother and crit-racing specialist Dean. Former national road champ and Giro d’Italia rider Matt Stephens leads the powerful Sigma squad and world silver medalist and former national track champ Tony Gibb leads the Plowman Craven – Madison boys out into battle, to engage with the UK’s best.

The format of The Tour Series sees 10 teams of five professional cyclists compete to place their top three riders in the highest positions at the end of a period of intense, fast-paced racing. Only the very best will survive in this arena!

To commemorate the inaugural Series an exclusive trophy has been commissioned, which has been designed and produced in Datchet - at the same foundry which makes the BAFTA awards - and will be unveiled on the first night of racing in Milton Keynes. The 10 teams will engage in combat to lift the coveted Tour Series trophy at the finals of the 10-round series which takes place in Southend-on-Sea on the 25th of June. 

Speaking about the prospect of going into battle with the UKs best Sport Beans-Wilier rider Billy-Joe Whenman said, “Riding the Tour Series is going to be an amazing experience - to compete against the country's best bike riders, in front of some amazing crowds and also on TV, will be great for my career and the team's profile. It should be the best racing of the year.”

Former two-time national champion and Tour Series director of racing Brian Smith added; “This unique concept of team racing has never been done before and will throw up the unexpected. This means plenty of thrills and spills and lots of action to keep the teams on their toes and the crowds excited. We have the 'Best of British' on show across the country and all events are completely free to attend and watch. I believe that everyone involved will have witnessed one of the best cycling shows in the world.”

Teams confirmed to race are: Candi tv – Pinarello, Endura Racing, Cyclingbargains.com, BMC UK Racing Team, Sport Beans – Wilier, Sigma Sport, Team Corley Cycles, Halfords Bikehut, Rapha – Condor and Plowman Craven - Madison

Round one of The Tour Series kicks off in Milton Keynes on 21st May around a 1-1.5km street circuit. Confirmed Tour Series race locations are: Exeter, Woking, Peterborough, Blackpool, Southport, Stoke-on-Trent, Colchester and Chester, with the finals of the series being staged at Southend.

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