A QUINTET of London 2012’s Olympic Champions will take to the streets of Redditch this week, as the Pearl Izumi Tour Series cycling returns to Worcestershire tomorrow, Tuesday, May 19.
Double Olympic Champion Laura Trott, as well as her victorious Team Pursuit teammates Dani King and Joanna Rowsell will all be taking part in the opening round of the women’s Matrix Fitness GP Series at 6pm in Redditch, while fellow Olympians Ed Clancy and Steven Burke will also be in action in the men’s event at 1930.
The event takes place on a 1.4-kilometre circuit in the centre of Redditch, starting and finishing on Church Green West, including the climb of Unicorn Hill every lap, with local support events going on from 2pm.
Trott will be leading her Matrix Fitness team in the first event of the five-round women’s Series, with local Solihull rider Lucy Shaw and World Track Champion Elinor Barker among her teammates for the 45-minute race
Rowsell will be racing for the Pearl Izumi Sports Tours International team, who could also include Birmingham based Great Britain rider Ciara Horne and multiple Paralympic Champion Dame Sarah Storey.
The third member of the victorious Great Britain team pursuit squad Dani King will represent Wiggle Honda in the race, while Team WNT will feature Commonwealth Games medallist Charline Joiner to complete a star studded field of over 60-riders.
Worcestershire spectators can also get behind local riders Emily Kay, a Junior World Pursuit Champion, from Bromsgrove and Great Britain mountain biker Beth Crumpton, who hails from Redditch itself.
In the men’s Series, which visits Redditch for a fourth year in a row, it will be the ONE Pro Cycling team co-owned by England cricketer Matt Prior, who took maximum points from last week’s double-header opening round at Ryde on the Isle of Wight.
Defending Pearl Izumi Tour Series champions JLT Condor will hope to bounce back after a disappointing opening event and will again field Ed Clancy, while Team WIGGINS will have fellow 2012 Team Pursuiter Steven Burke in their line-up for the race.
