The 2012 Halfords Tour Series is taking shape.
Towns from Scotland to the south coast of England have been confirmed for the televised series of city centre races.
The Fife town of Kirkcaldy will host the opening round of the 10-race series on Tuesday May 15, heralding the first time the race has moved north of the border.
Scotsman, James McCallum, a key rider for the Rapha Condor Sharp squad that won last year’s Tour Series, welcomed Kirkcaldy’s inclusion.
“I’m absolutely over the moon to hear there will be a Scottish round in his year’s Halfords Tour Series. I’ve been waiting for this for three years. The atmosphere will be electric and city centre cycling is back in Scotland at last,” he said.
Torquay will host the series on Tuesday June 5, the bank holiday weekend held to celebrate the Queen’s Diamond Jubilee.
Plymouth rider, Jon Tiernan-Locke (Endura Racing), the current leader of the UCI Europe Tour after early season wins at Haut Var and the Tour of the Mediterranean, said the visit of the Tour Series would boost cycling in the region.
“In my mind Torquay is the perfect backdrop for all the drama and atmosphere of this top level series, and I can’t wait to see the streets transformed into a race circuit for the night!”
Series Director, Mick Bennett, added: “I know many fans of The Halfords Tour Series were disappointed that there was no South West round last season, so we hope that spectators will take advantage of the long Bank Holiday weekend to stay in Torquay and to come and enjoy the action as the Series returns to the South West, on what will be one of our most picturesque circuits.”
On Thursday June 7, the Tour Series will move east to the Essex town of Colchester. Teams will tackle a testing 1.6km circuit in the town centre. The race will be the climax to an afternoon of cycle activities. The town was given an award last year by series sponsor Halfords.
Essex professional, Jason White (Metaltek-Scott), who finished 2011 as the number one ranked elite male cyclist in Britain, said he couldn’t wait for the return of the Tour Series to his home county.
“After crashing out last year when in really good form, I feel I’ve unfinished business in what is my local round when a lot of my family get to see me race. The public come out in droves and the vibe around the circuit is amazing,” he said.
Colchester hosted rounds of the Tour Series in 2009 and 2011, when Dean Downing (Rapha Condor Sharp) led the field home. In 2010, the Essex town hosted a finish of the Tour of Britain.
Team GB track stars Ed Clancy and Steven Burke are among the riders due to take part in the Woking round of the Tour Series, which will visit the Surrey town on Tuesday June 12, just over a month before the Olympics.
Woking has held a round of the series every year since its inception in 2009, attracting more than 30,000 spectators to the town in three years. Surrey-based professional, Simon Richardson (Team IG-Sigma Sport), said the crowd at last year’s race had provided ‘fantastic support’.
“The buzz of the crowd and the sound of the cheers can really make you work harder during the race. We hope we can rely on the crowd to get behind us again this year and we can do Woking proud!” he said.
Further announcements on host venues are expected in the coming weeks.
