Edinburgh’s city centre streets welcomes round six of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series on 29 May and Matrix Fitness Grand Prix women’s race series
![]() |
Iconic Edinburgh Course for Tour Series
The fast-paced races – brought to Edinburgh by Sweetspot, EventScotland and the City of Edinburgh Council – will see some of Britain’s top professional teams competing on a challenging course, which includes cobbles, hairpin bends and a tough sharp climb.
Starting in the iconic Grassmarket in the shadow of Edinburgh Castle, the peloton will race up the cobbled Victoria Street climb onto George IV Bridge before heading south past the National Library of Scotland and over the famous Cowgate.
Riders will pass the National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street and turn at the statue of Greyfriars Bobby at the top of Candlemaker Row before speeding back down to the Grassmarket to complete the lap.
Earlier in the day, Edinburgh will also host round three of the Matrix Fitness Grand Prix, which will see some of Britain’s best domestic women’s teams. There will also be a number of lower category races, which will give aspiring local club riders the chance to race on the same course as the pro-teams.
Riders James McCallum (NFTO); David Lines, Jen Taylor, Eileen Roe and Jane Barr (all Starley Primal) were joined by the City of Edinburgh Council’s Festivals and Events Champion Steve Cardownie to announce the route in the Grassmarket.
James McCallum, NFTO Pro Cycling: “It’s brilliant to have city centre racing back in the capital once again and The Pearl Izumi Tour Series back in Scotland. The Edinburgh public have been wanting cycling back on their doorstep and now they have it”.
“Being a local boy, it’s a massive motivation to put on a great show for the Scottish crowd, of which I’m sure will turn out in their thousands.”
Eileen Roe, Starley Primal Pro Cycling: “I’ve been hooked on the Series ever since my first win in Colchester in 2012 & look forward to racing in front of massive noisy crowds or catching it on ITV4. Criterium racing is a brilliant night of action, noise & having one in the capital of Scotland is very special, especially as it’s on a circuit that’s one of the hardest in the Series & defiantly not for the faint hearted! A night to remember is on the cards! One that I cannot wait for already!”
Russell Downing will be bringing this jersey to Edinburgh which is where he is pictured at another event on the same cobbles…Â
Councillor Steve Cardownie, Festivals and Events Champion for the City of Edinburgh Council, said: “I’m delighted that the Pearl Izumi is visiting Edinburgh this year. It will be a fantastic opportunity for people to see Britain’s top cyclists go head to head against the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh’s Grassmarket, and will provide families with a fun day out in the Capital. As a Council, we pledge to devote 5% of our transport budget on provision for cyclists so this event will complement this commitment enormously. I’m sure our residents will join in their thousands to make the Edinburgh leg of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series a huge success.”
Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland said: “Scotland is the perfect stage for events and with the Tour Series, we will bring quality bike racing to the city centre streets of our capital city. This is a technical, challenging route, which will excite the riders and create an incredible spectacle for fans lining the streets.”
The Pearl Izumi Tour Series 2014:
Round One Tuesday 13 May Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire (includes Team Time Trial)
Round Two Thursday 15 May Barrow, Cumbria
Round Three Tuesday 20 May Peterborough, Cambridgeshire
Round Four Friday 23 May Aberystwyth, Ceredigion
Round Five Tuesday 27 May Durham, County Durham
Round Six Thursday 29 May Edinburgh, Lothian
Round Seven Tuesday 3 June Redditch, Worcestershire
Round Eight Thursday 5 June Canary Wharf, London
Round Nine Tuesday 10 June Woking, Surrey
Round Ten Friday 13 June Gorey, Jersey (includes Hill Climb event)
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- NEWS: CLIMBING TRAINING CAMP
- Features, Reports, Results
- HC Result: Sussex Revolution VC Hill Climb
- HC Result: Welsh Championship Hill Climb
- TT Result: Norwich ABC 25
- HC Result: Monsal Head Hill Climb
- Tour of Britain 2026 News
- HC Result: Horseshoe Pass Hill Climb
- CX Result: London/South East CX League 4
- CX Result: South West CX League 2
- Result: Manchester Regional Track League 7
- HC Result: North Road Hill Climb
- CX Result: CCXL Round 4
- CX Result: Wessex Cyclocross League 5 (VC Venta)
- HC Result: The Zig-Zag Hill Climb
- HC Result: VC Walcot Hill Climb
- CX Result: National Trophy Derby (Day 2)
- HC Result: Kibblesworth Bank Hill Climb
- HC Result: Otley CC Two Stage Hill Climb
- HC Result: Sussex CA Bostal Blaster
- HC Result: Belmont Hill Hill Climb
- CX Result: National Trophy Derby Day 1
- Result: Haus GP – Darley Moor
- Result: West Thames Autumn Series Rnd 2
- Startlist: National Trophy Round 1 (Derby)
- HC Result: Scottish Hill Climb Championships
- HC Result: Ravenna Rumble on the Trundle
- HC Result: Mid Devon CC Widecombe Hill Climb
- HC Result: Mid Devon CC Haytor Climb
- Result: Full Gas Summer Circuit Series #29
- CX Result: London and South East CX League 3
- Result: Hitchin Nomad Late Summer Road Race
- CX Result: CCXL Round 3
- RL360 IOM YOUTH CYCLING LEAGUE 2025
- CX Result: Wessex Cyclocross League Rd 4
- News: Indoor Champs Coming to Derby
- CX Result: Lincolnshire CX League Rd 2
- CX Result: Western Cyclo-cross League Rd 3 (Pittville Park)
- Result: Doncaster Dome Crits
- TT Result: Epsom CC 25
- HC Result: Whinlatter Hill Climb
Other News on VeloUK
- NEWS: CLIMBING TRAINING CAMP
- Tour of Britain 2026 News
- Startlist: National Trophy Round 1 (Derby)
- News: Indoor Champs Coming to Derby
- Report: Harry Hudson wins World Title!
- BMCR National Circuit Championships
- Feature: Eddie Dunbar – Building towards the Tour de France & beyond
- FEATURE: The Pedal Club September Lunch
- News: GB for Road Worlds (Rwanda)
- BMCR Event: National Championship
- Report: Men’s Tour of Britain Stage 5
- New Team for Cyclocross Champion Xan Crees
- Tour of Britain Stage 1
- Men’s Tour of Britain Provisional Start List
- Tour of Britain News: GB Team for Race
- FEATURE: The Pedal Club Lunch (August)
- Winners! Ribble Outliers Latvian Triple!
- GB FOR JUNIOR TRACK WORLD CHAMPS
- Beaumont Trophy/Curlew Cup 2025
- STAGE ROUTES ANNOUNCED FOR MEN’S TOUR OF BRITAIN
- TOUR OF BRITAIN NEWS – THE TEAMS
- Startlist: RTTC National 25 Mile Championship
- Ribble Cycles CGR – Commute, Gravel, Road range
- Tour of Britain News: 2 Days in Wales
- News: The Pedal Club Lunch (July)
- STARTLIST: National Youth Circuit Series (Wyke)
- Men’s Tour of Britain Route Update
- GB Team for Track Euros
- Opening of Sir Mark Cavendish Raceway
- Bike News: Ribble Cycles Alloy Bikes
- This Weekend: Junior Road Championships
- Wednesday: Otley Cycle Races
- Mid Shropshire Wheelers celebrates 100 Years of Cycling
- Team Feature: Prologue Junior Racing Team Spring Review
- New: Ribble Cycles Ultra-Grit & Allgrit Ranges
- START LISTS FOR BRITISH ROAD CHAMPIONSHIPS
- STARTLIST: Two day Giant Tugby Ronde van Wymeswold
- NEWS: MAJOR JUNIOR TEAMS TO MERGE FOR 2026
- Entries Wanted: Ilkley Town Centre Races
- Report/Result: Women’s Tour of Britain Stage 2