World famous business and shopping district to again play host to Halfords Tour Series
The teams for 2012 – Endura Racing, Raleigh GAC, Herbalife-Leisurelakes, Node4/Giordana/Subaru, UK Youth, Metaltek-Scott, Cycle Premier, RaphaCondorSharp, Hope Factory RT and IG SigmaSport.
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Canary Wharf will once again welcome the return of world-class elite cycling this summer, when The Halfords Tour Series returns, less than two months before the London 2012 games begins. The unique team-based city centre cycle race Series will visit the world famous business and shopping district for the third time on Thursday 31 May, bringing Britain’s top professional teams to race at an iconic location. It will provide a chance for Londoners to see at spectacular close quarters a number of riders competing in London 2012 including the likes of Ed Clancy from defending champions Rapha Condor Sharp, and Steven Burke of Team IG – Sigma Sport.
Camille Waxer, Chief Administrative Officer at Canary Wharf Group plc said: “We are delighted to welcome The Tour Series back to Canary Wharf and are proud of our association with these world-class athletes. We look forward to witnessing an exciting battle with both the professionals and our own tenant based teams who will be taking part in the Canary Wharf Corporate Grand Prix. This key event in our Arts & Events programme comes less than two months before London 2012 and we are looking forward to welcoming some of the UK’s Olympic hopefuls who will be competing here at Canary Wharf.”
Commenting on the race was 2011 Canary Wharf winner Johnny McEvoy: “After a really successful and exciting round of The Halfords Tour Series in 2011 at Canary Wharf, I am looking forward to returning with my new Endura Racing team to try win again. The atmosphere and great surroundings make for a brilliant race.”
In addition to the professional race, once again amateur cyclists from Canary Wharf’s biggest corporate names will have the chance to battle for victory in the curtain raising Canary Wharf Corporate Grand Prix. The third edition of the Corporate Grand Prix will follow the highly successful ProAm relay format of previous years, partnering some of Canary Wharf’s most famous names with riders from each of The Halfords Tour Series’ professional teams.
Jonny McEvoy winning in Canary Wharf in 2011…. The North West rider will be back in Endura Racing colours in 2012 and may well be even more successful after a great start to 2012.
Jason White of the Metaltek Scott team led Thomson Reuters to victory in last year’s Canary Wharf Corporate Grand Prix, and is looking forward to the Series’ return to the venue. “The atmosphere at Canary Wharf is unreal, it seems everyone in the City becomes a cycling fan for the day, the circuit with the high rise buildings creates a real presence like a cycling amphitheatre. Last year I was the chosen anchorman for the corporate challenge. The Guys and Girls taking part are so competitive too, they really take it seriously.”
Canary Wharf joins venues from around the UK as a part of the 2012 Halfords Tour Series, which was launched in Stoke-on-Trent today. This year’s Series heads to Scotland for the first time ever, beginning in Kirkcaldy for Round One of the Series on Tuesday 15th May, visiting England, Scotland and Wales over the course of five weeks before the Grand Final in Stoke-on-Trent.
The Grand Final will include for the first time in Series history a Team Time Trial as part of a double-header round, with the event named in honour of Tommy Godwin, who set the record for the most miles cycling in a year.
Skyscrapers and a bike race… that’s the Halfords Tour Series in Canary Wharf.
2012 Halfords Tour Series Calendar
Round One Tuesday 15th May Kirkcaldy, Fife
Round Two Thursday 17th May Durham, County Durham
Round Three Tuesday 22nd May Oxford, Oxfordshire
Round Four Thursday 24th May Redditch, Worcestershire
Round Five Friday 25th May Aberystwyth, Ceredigion
Round Six Tuesday 29th May Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Round Seven Thursday 31st May Canary Wharf, London
Round Eight Tuesday 5th June Torquay, Devon
Round Nine Thursday 7th June Colchester, Essex
Round Ten Tuesday 12th June Woking, Surrey
Round Eleven Thursday 14th June Stoke-on-Trent
