Tour Series '˜coup' can inspire future Portsmouth cyclists

Professional bike racing will return to Portsmouth on Thursday, June 9.

Councillor Ken Ellcome is hoping the spectacle of the country’s finest riders doing battle on a city centre circuit in the final round of the Tour Series will inspire residents to get cycling.

From the left are Madison Genesis professional rider Tristan Robbins, Jo-Anne Downing, British Cycling mascot ToBi, Cllr Ken Ellcome, cabinet member for transport at PCC and Madison Genesis professional rider Matt Cronshaw

placeholder image — From the left are Madison Genesis professional rider Tristan Robbins, Jo-Anne Downing, British Cycling mascot ToBi, Cllr Ken Ellcome, cabinet member for transport at PCC and Madison Genesis professional rider Matt Cronshaw

Talking at Saturday’s launch of the Portsmouth round at the Gunwharf Quays home of sponsors Pearl Izumi, Cllr Ellcome said: ‘It is a bit of a coup, especially to get the final race of the series.

‘Seeing a race will hopefully enthuse people and encourage them to get into cycling.

‘We all know congestion in the city is a problem, so we are trying to get people out of their cars and into other forms of transport. Cycling is very important in that.’

TOUR SERIES EXPLAINED

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