Who said racing was easy? The next two rounds of the new format Tour Series will take place within three days, with riders racing at Woking tonight (2 June) before heading to Peterborough on 4 June.

Woking boasts a highly technical circuit, based firmly in the centre of the town. A hairpin, a stiffish climb and a sweeping descent all await the riders, along with what is expected to possibly be the largest crowd in this year’s series.

Peterborough serves up an excellent circuit of 90 degree corners and long straights, which should guarantee some super-fast racing once again. The start/finish on Bridge Street turns into the dog-leg straight on Church Street before entering the long, sweeping back straight on Bourges Boulevard – encompassing the historic Peterborough central areas – before returning to Bridge Street.

The team competition is now neck and neck with Rapha-Condor on 20 points joining Candi TV-Marshalls Pasta at the head of the Tour Series team standings. However, Candi TV go to Woking this week in the distinctive leaders’ blue jerseys by virtue of a countback system on team positions over the first two races. Ed Clancy leads the Series’ Points competition overall after taking two of the three sprints at Exeter.

Team selections from here on will be tweaks, as opposed to major overhauls, as most of the teams have shown their cards in this game of cycle-poker. However, with a few notable absentees in the form of Halfords man Ian Wilkinson, Olympian Chris Newton and Sport Beans rider Marcin Babiolocki, you can still expect some of the teams to bolster their strength.

The team ethic that is at the heart of the Tour Series is also beginning to be grasped by all concerned as the racing at Exeter exemplified. Riders were actively seen to be cajoling team mates into forward positions to enable the first three across the line. With big prizes available to teams this will only get more tactical as the series goes on.

Head to www.tourseries.co.uk for more, including a post-race podcast from ITV’s Ned Boulting. Highlights will be shown on ITV4 at 7pm Wednesday and Friday night.