Aberdeen to welcome The Tour Series this May
02 March 2017
Aberdeen will welcome The Tour Series cycling event for the first time this Summer, as Britain’s top professionals race around the city centre on Thursday 25th May, in the event which will be shown on ITV4.
Up to 50 elite riders, including the likes of Olympic Champion Ed Clancy MBE of defending champions JLT Condor, former Australian Champion Steele Von Hoff of ONE Pro Cycling and top sprinter Chris Opie of Bike Channel Canyon, will race in Aberdeen, tackling an hour-long race around a closed-road, city centre circuit.
The city will be one of two Scottish rounds on the calendar, with Motherwell hosting the other two nights previously. Highlights of the Aberdeen race will be shown on ITV4 on Friday 26th May.
Aberdeen City Council Leader Councillor Jenny Laing said: “Aberdeen is a dynamic city which offers a great deal for both residents and visitors. In the last few years, we have made a concerted effort to raise the city’s profile through our ambitious events programme and bringing The Tour Series to Aberdeen, in conjunction with EventScotland, will strengthen Aberdeen’s position as a must-visit destination for high-profile cultural and sporting events.
“This leading cycling race is one of the first events in our summer programme and is part of our wider Aberdeen 365 Events Strategy, a City Centre Masterplan initiative, which will see new events such as The Tour Series and Great Aberdeen Run, brought to the Granite City over the coming years.
“The Tour Series is a unique team event where Britain’s top professional cycling teams battle it out at every round for the right to be crowned Britain’s top team. The races take place at ten venues across the UK during a three-week period and I am excited to give Scottish cycling fans the opportunity to see Britain’s top teams and riders competing here in Aberdeen”.
Further details of the Aberdeen event, including the city centre circuit that will be used by the elite riders will be announced in the coming weeks.
Stuart Turner, Head of EventScotland, said: “The Tour Series is a fantastic event and we’re delighted to be helping bring it to Aberdeen for the first time. With a number of dedicated cycle routes throughout Scotland, including Aberdeen to Shetland, this will be a great opportunity to showcase what the region has to offer to a national TV audience of cycling enthusiasts.
“The decision The Tour Series has taken to once again bring two rounds of the event to Scotland shows why we are the perfect stage for events.”
Commenting on the announcement, Mick Bennett Race Director of Tour Series organisers SweetSpot said; “We are thrilled to be working with Aberdeen City Council to bring The Tour Series to the city for the first time. We know just how popular cycling is in Aberdeen and the surrounding area, so are sure that all of the riders can look forward to large crowds and a warm welcome on the 25th May.”
Entering its ninth season of competition, the unique, televised race Series has a revamped calendar now taking place entirely within May, and including three new events at Aberdeen, Wembley and Northwich and a Bank Holiday finish, for the first time ever, on the 29th May in Stevenage.
Seven professional men’s teams, headlined by defending champions JLT Condor, and including ONE Pro Cycling, who return to The Tour Series after a year away, will race at every round. 2014 Champions Madison Genesis return along with Team Raleigh GAC, Bike Channel Canyon, Metaltek Kuota and Series debutants Morvélo Basso. Further guest teams for each round will be announced in the coming weeks.
Highlights of every round of The Tour Series will be shown on ITV4, with programmes also be available on demand via the ITV Hub.