News: Tour of Hertfordshire Series

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Tarmac Tour of Hertfordshire Series continues to push the boundaries of town centre racing

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News: Tour of Hertfordshire Series 

Tarmac Tour of Hertfordshire Series continues to push the boundaries of town centre racing

Up until 2015 road racing had all but died in Hertfordshire save for the well-used Whitwell-Codicote circuit but 2015 changed all that. With significant funding form the County Council and Herts Public Health the Tour of Hertfordshire name was revived. There had not been a Tour of Herts since the long running North Road CC promotion folded 15 years ago and as for closed circuit racing? There simply wasn’t any.

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The decision was made to focus on short, fully closed town centre and urban circuits which ‘took the race to the people’ rather than the old model of trying to hide it away in scarce remote parts of the county. So far the model seems to be working admirably.

The inaugural series in2015 saw thousands of people attending the series across its 4 rounds, each of which ran for a full 8 hours, packing in every conceivable level and mode of racing from scootathlons to elite races, all categories, sexes and ages disability challenges and novice races all with a full festival of good food, drink and bike bling packed around it.

The 2016 series has gained a headline sponsor, Tarmac on the back of last year’s success. Once again, it hosts the County Club Relay Championships as well as the final GB Road to Rio Paralympic test event just before the team head off to the Olympics.

There are two new rounds, making 5 in total with a unique new circuit in Berkhamsted which encircles the moat of Berkhamsted Castle while the festival is housed within the castle grounds and the series finale is held over another never before raced circuit at the Hitchin Cobbled Classic which has an extensive stretch of Belgian style cobbles each lap. Last year’s series attracted national champions and former and current pros alongside utter beginners right down to balance bikers simply trying to complete a lap.

 

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Series director Jez Cox says of the series: “I raced in the last ever Tour of Hertfordshire and I remember its expansive course which seemed to span the whole county. That kind of racing just isn’t sustainable anymore in many of the southern counties of England and the model of circuits no longer than 1000m as we now have allows us to pack in so much more for riders, spectators and locals alike.

Each of the rounds is organised by a great Hertfordshire club and there are lots of exit routes available on the day for inspired people to get into cycling and do more. The events in their second year are now right up there as major events in those towns and riders and spectators will get feel of the full on Fete and Kermesse action that Belgian and French towns are so used to.”

The Series comprises:
May 22nd : BRE CycleFest, Bricket Wood
June 26th : Letchworth Grand Prix
July 10th : Berkhamsted Castle Revolutions Festival
July 17th : Welwyn Garden Petit Tour
September 25th : Hitchin Cobbled Classic

Full details can be found at www.tourofhertfordshireseries.com
And socially by connecting using #TTOHS and following @hertscycling

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