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The ten teams who will join the Pearl Izumi Tour Series to race alongside Britain's fastest teams during May and June as guest entries have today been confirmed.
Each round during the televised Series will feature one guest team giving the chance for local favourites or young riders the chance to race in front of large crowds and the ITV4 cameras. The ten squads and where they will race are: Wightlink LCM Systems (Ryde team time trial); Ride 24/7 (Ryde circuit race); VCUK PH Mas (Redditch); Easton Ritte (Aberystwyth); Wheelbase Altura MGD (Motherwell and Barrow); Achieve Northside Skinnergate (Durham); Richardsons Trek (Croydon); Nuun Sigma Sport London (Canary Wharf); Corley Cycles Drops RT (Peterborough); and Catford CC Equipe/Banks (Bath). Both the Pedal Heaven and Velosure Starley Primal teams made their debuts in the Pearl Izumi Tour Series as guest teams in recent years, going on to join the Series full time the following season. Andy Lyons, Team Manager for the Richardsons Trek team said; "For a small team like ours to be invited to guest at the Pearl Izumi Tour Series really is one of the highlights of our season. It gives our riders the opportunity to compete at the highest level and test their abilities against the best riders in Britain. "To be invited to compete as a guest team in such a prestigious and public accessible event as the Tour Series, allows a developing team such as ourselves the chance to demonstrate to our sponsors what the team are capable of and will hopefully allow us to grow the team further. It's an opportunity for our riders to experience racing at the very highest level in Britain, the crowds, the publicity and the general excitement associated with the Series are a motivation for our young riders to excel in the sport." Commenting on the invitation, Sarah Hooper, Team Manager for Corley Cycles Drops RT, who will ride in Peterborough on Tuesday 9 June, said; "The Corley Cycles - Drops RT riders are all really looking forward to riding the Pearl Izumi Tour Series. We've been involved in the Series as a full team in the past and as a guest so it's great that we can compete here again. We've ridden the Peterborough round three times since the Series started so it's a venue we know really well, and it's a great flowing course - bring it on." Grant Bayton, Team Manager for the Ride 24/7 team who will race in Ryde, said; "The Ride 24/7 Race Team is in its third year, starting as a small team based in the Cotswolds the team has continued to grow year and year due to the support of some great sponsors. The sponsors can see the teams vision in providing a platform for young riders as well as having a plan to be one of the biggest teams in the country by 2018. We are extremely excited about riding Round One of the Pearl Izumi Series in Ryde on the Isle of Wight, this is a fantastic opportunity for our younger riders to experience such a high profile event in such a great setting of Ryde”. The Pearl Izumi Tour Series gets underway at Ryde on the Isle of Wight on Thursday 14 May, with a double-header opening round featuring the regular one-hour circuit race plus a two lap team time trial. Highlights of every round will be shown on ITV4 the following evening. Fans in the south of England or travelling to Round One at Ryde on the Isle of Wight can also visit the Pearl Izumi outlet store at Gunwharf Quays (Unit 91) in Portsmouth, just a short walk from where the Wightlink ferries depart to the Isle of Wight. Nine teams will contest the 2015 Pearl Izumi Tour Series, led by defending champions JLT Condor presented by Mavic, who boast the winningest rider in the Series with six individual wins, Olympic Champion Ed Clancy. Two new squads will make their debuts in Ryde, the ONE Pro Cycling team of England cricketer Matt Prior and Team WIGGINS, the new squad for Sir Bradley Wiggins from 1st May. Past winners of the unique, team based Pearl Izumi Tour Series are Team Halfords Bikehut (2009), Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta (2010), Rapha Condor Sharp (2011), Endura Racing (2012), Team UK Youth (2013) and Rapha Condor JLT (2014). |
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Round One Thursday 14 May Ryde, Isle of Wight Round Two Tuesday 19 May Redditch Round Three Friday 22 May Aberystwyth Round Four Tuesday 26 May Motherwell Round Five Thursday 28 May Durham Round Six Friday 29 May Barrow Round Seven Tuesday 2 June Croydon Round Eight Thursday 4 June Canary Wharf Round Nine Tuesday 9 June Peterborough Round Ten Thursday 11 June Bath The nine teams for the 2015 Pearl Izumi Tour Series will be JLT Condor presented by Mavic; Madison Genesis, NFTO Pro Cycling, ONE Pro Cycling, Pedal Heaven RT, SportGrub Kuota; Team Raleigh – GAC; Team WIGGINS; and Velosure Starley Primal. Joining them will be one guest team per round. |