Colchester completes Tour Series line-up

Colchester has been announced as the final town completing the line-up for this summer's 10 round Tour Series of city centre cycle races.

Cycle racing comes to Colchester  in the middle of National Bike Week, on Thursday 18 June 2009, when the town's streets will play host to 10 top professional cycling teams from Britain and Europe battling it out over a 1.6Km street circuit.

As predicted on road.cc the final venue is one of Cycling England's 12 Cycling Towns. One of the aims of the Series is to promote cycling and Tour Series organisers promise an event that is more than just the main race combining a series of cycling-based activities and races that will generate a carnival atmosphere at each of the chosen venues. Each round will be televised via a major Terrestrial broadcaster.

Round one of the Tour Series kicks off in Milton Keynes on 21st May. Colchester becomes round eight of the tour and the eight other towns and cities already confirmed to host a Tour Series event are: Exeter, Woking, Peterborough, Blackpool, Southport, Stoke-on-Trent and Chester, with the finals of the series being staged at Southend.

Cllr Anne Turrell, Leader of the Council said:  “This is a first for both the UK and Colchester and we really couldn’t be more excited and thrilled to be hosting this event. This will provide a huge boost for our businesses and residents, with community events being planned throughout the day.

“Healthy living for all is one of our key priorities and we are hoping that world-class events like this on our doorstep will inspire younger and older people alike to get involved. This is a real opportunity for us to celebrate Colchester as a place where people want to live, work and visit.”

"We are delighted to have Colchester as part of The Tour Series," said Mick Bennett, Technical Director for The Tour Series. "With an afternoon packed full of community activities, residents and local business will be brought together in an event that celebrates the best of British cycling and healthy living." 

About the Tour Series

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”, around a 1-1.5km street circuit – organisers say it will deliveri “all of the thrills and spills of this high-speed sport.”

To find out more about the Tour Series including how to volunteer as a helper at one of the venues visit www.tourseries.co.uk
Follow The Tour Series on Facebook and Twitter http://twitter.com/TourSeries

The Tour Series and Tour of Britain are proud to be partners with the Prostate Cancer Charity.