WORLD and Olympic champions will be buckling on their helmets and oiling their bike chains ready for the Pearl Izumi tour series which is on its way to Redditch for the fourth year in a row.
Featuring Team GB Olympic pursuit champion Ed Clancy as well as a clutch of world champions, the event promises thrills and spills galore in an afternoon and evening of free entertainment.
As an added bonus the team of Tour de France winner and World and Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins will be there – and it’s possible the great man himself could turn up and ride the event in person.
The Redditch round was officially launched in the Kingfisher Shopping Centre on Thursday and Pete Hodges of organisers Sweetspot said the tour represented an unprecedented opportunity for people to get up close to all the action.
“Where else can you see the world’s best in their sport up close and for absolutely free?” he said.
His views were echoed by World Junior Track champion Emily Kay from Bromsgrove who’d just arrived in Redditch after racing in Holland: “If you watch football you might not see the world’s best and if you do it will cost you a lot of money.
“With cycling the top athletes could be standing right next to you, that’s what so wonderful about this sport.”
Once again the Redditch round will be shown on ITV4 and Ken Williams, manager of the Kingfisher Shopping Centre which is helping to sponsor the borough event, said the tour series really puts Redditch on the map.
“This is all about securing the future of the event for Redditch and it’s important that we all support it. After all, it’s brilliant publictiy for Redditch – and it’s going to be on TV for all to see too.”
Redditch hosts the first round of the Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series at 6pm and the second round of the men’s Pearl Izumi tour series at 7.30pm on Tuesday, May 19. Prior to that on the day there will be lots of fun events.
