THE crash barriers are going up around the town centre as Redditch gets ready for the launch of the Tour Series today, Tuesday, May 9.
And with Olympic and world champions on the team lists, local people and visitors are in for a thrilling afternoon and evening of racing around the tight, 1.4km circuit.
Big names include Scotland’s Katie Archibald and England’s Ed Clancy while Dame Sarah Storey – a multiple champion – will lead her own team which will include Redditch’s very own mountain bike and Under 23 champion Beth Crumpton.
The start and finish line is outside St Stephen’s Church on Church Green West, the riders heading anti-clockwise to plummet down Prospect Hill, through the pinch point just before the ring road bridge before making the perilously fast left hand turn into Clive Road.
If they survive that it’s straight along Clive Road before another left and the slow rising slopes of Hewell Road before the final turn and grind up Unicorn Hill and back to Church Green West.
Previous winners include Jon Mould of JLT Condor, who is down to ride tonight and Laura Kenny (Nee Trott).
Mould is sure to be in the hunt tonight to take the opening round of the Tour Series while for the Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Nicky Juniper of Team Ford EcoBoost is sure to be in the hunt.
As well as the racing there will be a whole host of other attractions in the Tour Village clustered around St Stephens including 360 Play, Cycle Studio and the GreenApe Pedal Powered Smoothie Bike – to name a few!
Local singing talent with an eye for LA Keri Whip gets proceedings under way at 1.30pm with the Men’s team time trial at 2.45pm.
From 4.15pm to 4.45pm the Kingfisher will be hosting an autograph session with the stars and at 4.50pm there’s the Mascot Race.
The Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Women’s Race starts at 5.30pm with the Tour Series Men’s Race at 7.30pm and the evening closes at 8.50pm with local star Stuart Woolfenden before the podium presentations.
It promises to be a fantastic day!
