MUD plugging Redditch cyclist Beth Crumpton is looking forward to getting back on the road and competing in the Tour Series which kicks off in her home town on May 9.
Beth, who made her name in cross country mountain biking, will be riding for the team of multiple paralympic gold medallist Dame Sarah Storey.
Known as the Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series, the women’s race will see some of the best female cyclists in the country compete over the tight 1.5 mile town centre circuit which includes tackling gruelling Unicorn Hill for lap after lap for one solid hour.
Their race will be followed by the men’s event – the Pearl Izumi Tour Series – with all the thrills – and spills – professional bike racing can offer.
“Last year I was concentrating on the Mountain Bike World Cup and was competing in Germany so I missed the event in Redditch,” said Beth.
“This year it’s great to be part of a team and with Storey Racing.
“It’s just so inspirational and to have her as a role model and a friend is fantastic, in fact it’s great just to be involved in her set up.”
Beth, now 22, is a former Junior and Under 23 British Cross Country Mountain Bike champion and won bronze in the UK Cyclo Cross championship at elite level.
Now studying sports business management at the University of Worcester she’s switched focus away from mountain biking, which involved a lot of expensive travelling to continental venues, to road racing in the summer and cyclo cross in the winter.
“I enjoy cyclo cross and I’m using the road racing as an opportunity to see what I can do and to get stronger for the cyclo cross season,” said Beth, who works part time at The Missing Link bike shop in Droitwich.
And with Storey Racing not having the ranking to compete in the Womens Tour of Great Britain, which is also run by SweetSpot, the company behind the Tour Series, she’s aiming to get a berth for the Union Cycliste Internationale’s prestigious Tour of Yorkshire event.
“It’s going to be tough to get in the team – only six of us can ride so it means I’ll be competing against team mates and friends, but the effort will be worth it if I can manage it,” she said.
The free to watch Tour Series kicks off in Redditch on Tuesday, May 9 and will be televised on ITV4 with pictures beamed across the world.
