| Aberystwyth gets set to host Britain's leading televised cycle race Series this Friday (27 May), the Pearl Izumi Tour Series, as the Ceredigion town welcomes the only Welsh round on the calendar. The Pearl Izumi Tour Series will visit Aberystwyth for the sixth consecutive May, headlining the weekend long Aberystwyth Cycle Fest, which will see a number of other cycling events taking place across the Bank Holiday weekend. The Series is unique in cycling in that it runs to a team based format, with the JLT Condor presented by Mavic team, who include Newport's Jon Mould and triple race winner in Aberystwyth Olympian Ed Clancy, heading to Wales in the lead of the Series. Hot on their heels are Madison Genesis team who took victory last time out in Edinburgh, and include Velothon Wales winner Tom Stewart and Aberyswyth's own professional Gruff Lewis in their five-rider line-up. "I'm really looking forward to it. Aberystwyth is one of the classic rounds, so for it to be back, in my home town there's that bit of added pressure, but I seem to thrive upon it. I can't wait to be there and to see some familiar faces from my family and friends,” said Lewis, who has competed before in his hometown event. "There's the pressure of racing the Pearl Izumi Tour Series and then there's the pressure of racing in front of everyone and hearing your name shouted all around the course. It is overwhelming but if you can handle it you can use it to your own advantage and that's what I'm hoping to do. "I'm a very proud Welshman, and Wales as a cycling nation is going from strength to strength, so to have the only Pearl Izumi Tour Series round in my home town is a bit of a showcase for Welsh Cycling. Every team has got Welsh riders, JLT Condor have got Jon [Mould] who won the other week, so we've got a lot of good Welsh riders, so it's nice that we can show Britain how strong Wales is as a cycling nation.” Among the other Welsh riders who could be on the start line are Steven Roach of Team Raleigh GAC and Sam Harrison of Team WIGGINS, who took part in both of last week's Scottish rounds. JLT Condor also boast another Ceredigion rider in Stevie Williams, who is yet to appear in the 2016 Series for them. Support activities and races get underway from 14:00 in Aberystwyth, including schools, business and women's race, before two amateur races at 16:55 and 17:30, with the professional race starting at 19:30 on the 1.2-kilometre town centre circuit and lasting for just over one-hour. For more information on the event, please visit www.abercyclefest.com Highlights of every round of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series will be shown on ITV4, with the Aberystwyth highlights shown at 22:00 on Monday 30 May, with a repeat the following day at 10:25. Programmes will also be available on demand via the ITV Player. |
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