Route is revealed for Tour Series races

THE COUNTRY’S top cyclists are returning to race around the streets of Peterborough.

The Halfords Tour Series will return to Peterborough on Tuesday, May 29, with dozens of top riders battling it out for glory in and around the city centre.

It is the fourth successive year that the event has been staged in the city and the official course map was released yesterday confirming that riders will race around the same 1.1 kilometre circuit as last year.

The race, which can see riders reach speeds of more than 30mph, will start in Cathedral Square with cyclists racing along Bridge Street.

They will then turn by TK Maxx to continue the race along Bourges Boulevard, before finishing the 1.1km lap along Cowgate and back into Cathedral Square.

The race will start at 7pm, last for an hour and will be televised on ITV4.

Events will be taking place in the city centre throughout the day from 11am, including children’s races, community cycling events and entertainment in the lead-up to the big race.

Peterborough is also one of only four venues in the country to host the women’s 2012 Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series which starts at 5pm.

Motorists are being warned to expect street closures in Bourges Boulevard and the surrounding area during the day.

Annette Joyce, Peterborough City Council’s head of commercial oper- ations, said: “We’re thrilled to have been chosen to stage a round of the Halfords Tour Series in 2012 for the fourth successive year.

“The event creates an amazing atmosphere as thousands of people flock into the city centre to watch the riders.

“The Halfords Tour Series is a great opportunity to showcase what Peterborough has to offer and will promote the city to a national audi- ence. There’s no doubt that encouraging people into the city centre will provide a welcome boost to the local economy.

“We hope as many residents as possible will come along and join the fun, either by taking part in one of the community events or joining the crowds to watch the race.

“This will continue to put Peterborough on the map as a destination for leisure and sporting events.”

Race: A map of the route the cyclists will take in the Tour Series Race, which will be held at the end of the month.