Rio 2016 Olympic Champions Ed Clancy and Katie Archibald are among the riders due to take part in a major international cycling event that comes to Stevenage for the second year running this Bank Holiday Monday.
The final stage of The Tour Series, a team-based, televised city centre cycling series organised by SweetSpot Group Ltd, looks set to bring the crowds to Stevenage Old Town – hopefully under sunny skies.
The on-track action starts at 3pm – but the fun kicks off before then at 10am with community activities including open-course bike riding, where anyone can have a go round the circuit, before youth, amateur and novice races until 3pm.
Spectators can also get a free bike service if they cycle to the event.
More than 150 children from schools across Stevenage have taken part in a completion to design the flags that will get the races underway.
Stevenage mayor Councillor Pam Stuart and a representative from the Stevenage Arts Guild judged the winning designs, which came from Longmeadow Primary School.
All of the competition winners will be invited along to the start/finish line of The Tour Series in the Old Town on Monday to flag away the elite men’s and women’s races.
Mrs Stuart said: “Congratulations to the students from Longmeadow School for their winning flag designs. I’m sure all the riders will be impressed by their designs when they’re waved off on the start line.
“The Tour Series promises to be a memorable day for our town so I’m sure the children are excited to come along and play their part in starting the races.”
The women’s Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series teams will take to the course twice, for a two-lap Team Time Trial event at 3pm followed by a circuit race at 5.30pm. The men’s Tour Series race will get underway at 7.30pm, lasting for just over an hour to round out the 2017 Tour Series.
Highlights of every round of The Tour Series are shown on ITV4, with programmes also available on demand via the ITV Hub. Action from the Stevenage grand final will be shown on ITV4 at 10pm on Tuesday.
See the Bank Holiday supplement and page 83 in this week’s Comet for full coverage.
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