REDDITCH will be hosting the opening round of the OVO Energy Tour Series for the second year running on May 10.
The 1.4km local circuit, taking in Church Green West, Prospect Hill, Clive Road and Unicorn Hill (frequently called ‘Union Hill’ by ITV4’s commentators) is widely regarded as the toughest in the ten-round competition.
Once again teams of elite men and women – many fresh from competing in the Commonwealth Games – will be battling it out on the streets of Redditch.
There will also be a full programme of entertainment too, with events kicking off at 2pm on Church Green before the elite women go to the start line at 5.30pm.
Their race will last approximately 45 minutes to an hour before the elite men line up at 7.30pm for a one-hour race.
The bike race is the biggest event not only in the town’s calendar but all of Worcestershire.
The TV cameras will be there and the event will be screened on ITV4 and beamed across the world with an expected audience of millions.
From Redditch the Tour Series heads north to Motherwell (May 15) before hitting the streets of Aberdeen (May 17) and from there it is down to Durham (May 22) where stage A will feature a men’s time trial before stage B, when the elite racing begins.
May 26 sees the Tour Series arrive in Aberystwyth and then going on to Stevenage (May 28) for another two-stage evening, again with a time trial taking place.
The following night the riders are at Wembley for the penultimate, and at 1.8km longest, stage, before the grand final at a venue yet to be revealed.
