News: Tour Series heading to East London

The Tour Series will return to (East) London this year when Barking hosts a round of the UK’s leading domestic cycle race series for the first time on May 21st.

News: Tour Series heading to North East London

The Tour Series will return to (East) London this year when Barking hosts a round of the UK’s leading domestic cycle race series for the first time on May 21st. Taking place on Saturday, 21 May, this round will form part of the inaugural Barking BikeFest, which will see the historic Abbey Green provide the backdrop to a full day of community fun and cycle-themed activities.

Barking will host the series in the year that the event will start alternating between staging the men’s and women’s races first and second on the schedule. Additionally, both events will take place over the same one hour and five lap distance, with the series continuing to offer equal prize pots for the winners. Winners of the women’s race will receive the Mary Wollstonecraft Cup after the pioneering feminist who once lived in the borough.

The 1.2-kilometre (0.7-mile) circuit will run anti-clockwise around the perimeter of the Abbey Grounds. Featuring only four corners, two of which are sweeping, it is expected to be one of the quickest courses in the series’ 13-year history. It will be the first London round of the series since 2018 and will be the only one within the M25 border on this year’s schedule.

Mick Bennett, Tour Series race director, said: “I know cycling fans have been clamouring for the Tour Series to return to London, so I hope they start making plans to come to Barking on Saturday 21 May! We’re excited to be a part of the first-ever Barking BikeFest, which promises to be a fantastic community event, and I can only thank everybody involved behind-the-scenes for all of their efforts so far. It’s going to be great!”