SweetSpot Group, the organisers and promoters of The Pearl Izumi Tour Series, would like to thank all of the stakeholders, partners, officials and competitors following the success of the 2013 season, which finished in Ipswich on Friday night.
Eleven venues across Scotland, England and Wales hosted a round of The Pearl Izumi Tour Series, the fifth year of the unique, team based town and city centre cycle race Series.
Launched in 2009, SweetSpot Group’s Tour Series has now visited 24 venues in England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Northern Ireland.
“On behalf of the team at SweetSpot Group I would like to publically thank everyone who made this year’s Pearl Izumi Tour Series possible, from the all of the venue stakeholders and our loyal group of Official Partners and longstanding suppliers to the invaluable contribution from our officials and volunteers,” said Hugh Roberts, Chief Executive of SweetSpot Group.
“From a racing point of view the standard of competition in both The Pearl Izumi Tour Series and Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series was exceptionally high, and I would like to offer my congratulations to both Team UK Youth and Hannah Barnes,” said Race Director Mick Bennett.
“My thanks go to the riders and teams for their continued support, all of whom played their part in the best edition yet of the Series.”
Team UK Youth, backed by 1992 Formula One World Champion Nigel Mansell, came out on top of the 12 race Series, winning a record nine rounds on their way to their first overall victory. Speaking after the victory, Team Owner and President of the UK Youth Charity Nigel Mansell said;
“To participate and contest The Pearl Izumi Tour Series was in itself a privilege. The events provide us with the opportunity to spread the word of the 102 year old National Charity to communities throughout the UK.
“We were fortunate enough to win the Series overall, in the process illustrating to the young people of the UK that hard work and determination results in success.
“Our sincere thanks to the sponsors of both Team UK Youth, and The Tour Series. The professionalism and hard work of the other competing teams, the organisers at SweetSpot and the fine towns and cities we visited should all be congratulated on making the 2013 Pearl Izumi Tour Series the best yet!”
In Britain’s leading women’s race series the Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series, also organised by SweetSpot Group, Hannah Barnes swept the honours, winning the Series and the Sprints Jersey. Her MG Maxifuel team also took the team prize.
Commenting on victory in the Series, Hannah Barnes said;
“Winning the Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series is amazing! It's the biggest event in Britain for the women and it's such a great event. I am so happy the team took the overall. It was a huge goal for us and it's great we pulled it off and we can all share the victory together.”
MG Maxifuel Team Manager Rod Freeman added;
“MG Maxifuel Pro Cycling were delighted to win, in their first year of running a women’s cycling team, the Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series and would like to thank Johnson Health Tech for sponsoring and SweetSpot for organising such an exciting event. The team were delighted to receive such support at each venue and especially all the well wishes for Hannah after her crash.”
Attention for SweetSpot Group now turns towards this September’s tenth anniversary Tour of Britain, which begins in Peebles on Sunday 15thSeptember and climaxes with an iconic central London finish on Sunday 22nd September.
Ahead of that SweetSpot Group will be working as part of the London & Surrey Cycle Partnership alongside The London Marathon Ltd to organise the Prudential RideLondon Olympic Legacy event on the weekend of 3rd and 4th August.
This Summer will also see more details announced of The Women’s Tour, SweetSpot Group’s exciting new event for 2014 that will bring elite women’s stage racing to the UK and the chance to see the world’s top female riders racing against Britain’s Olympic heroines and rising stars.