Southport signs up for The Tour Series

Following on from last week's launch of The Tour Series, SweetSpot, the organisers of the series last night announced Southport as the latest venue to sign up for a round of the city centre criterium  series.

Southport, scene of huge crowds for a Sprint on the final stage of this year’s Tour of Britain, joins Woking as one of the first venues to become part of The Tour Series for 2009.

With an emphasis not just on the Elite Criterium that will round off an evening of exciting cycling activity, but also on a whole afternoon of music and cycling related activities including youth and amateur races, demonstrations and skills sessions, The Tour Series will help build a cycling-themed carnival atmosphere in the centre of Southport next summer.

The Tour Series aims to help the development of cycling in Southport, one of Cycling England’s Cycling Towns, not just on the day of the event itself, but also throughout the year.

Cllr John Fairclough, Sefton Council's Cabinet Member for Technical Services, said:

“This is another great coup for Southport and Sefton – hot on the heels of the Cycling Town announcement a few months ago.

"Over the coming months, we will continue to work with the Tour Series organisers to make this inaugural event a night to remember."

Rather than focussing on individual athletic achievement, The Tour Series will instead focus on teams, with ten squads of five riders taking part in the series.  With Britain’s top domestic teams taking part, plus special guest stars, The Tour Series will make for exciting and action packed racing on a circuit at the heart of Southport next summer.