| This year's Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series will not only contain more rounds than ever before, but also more teams than previous years, as eleven squads have committed to riding all six events. The sixth year of the Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series has seen an additional sixth event added, while the format will also move closer in-line with that of the men's Pearl Izumi Tour Series to focus on the teams. While the individual and sprint competitions remain, the leading team will now wear the five leader jerseys, showcasing the leading team as the fastest in the women's peloton. Leading the teams is the Podium Ambition presented by Club La Santa squad who have been champions for the past two editions, and will be looking to make it a hat trick in 2016. Among their squad is multiple Paralympic Champion Dame Sarah Storey and World Champion Katie Archibald, who won the Peterborough and Motherwell events respectively last year. Last year's individual champion Nikki Juniper has a new-look team for 2016 in Team Ford EcoBoost, where she is joined by Commonwealth Games medallist and Croydon race winner Charline Joiner. The full list of teams who will race in all rounds of the Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series are:
Each team will field up to five riders at each round of the Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series, while the Series will also cater for a small number of individual entries, allowing leading riders from outside the main teams to still compete in the televised races. In 2016 rounds of the Matrix Fitness Grand Prix Series will take place in Motherwell (Tuesday 17 May), Redditch (Thursday 26 May), Stoke-on-Trent (Thursday 2 June), Stevenage (Monday 6 June), Croydon (Tuesday 7 June) and Portsmouth (Thursday 9 June). Both Stevenage and Portsmouth will be new events on the calendar, while Stoke-on-Trent's round comes as the city celebrates being European City of Sport in 2016. Highlights of all the races will be shown as a part of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series programmes on ITV4 following each race. – Ends – |
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