The Isle of Man will host the Pearl Izumi Tour Series for the next three years, including the opening race of the 2016 competition, which will take place in Ramsey on Friday 13 May – the first time in 13 years that a professional bike race will have been held on the island where Mark Cavendish and Peter Kennaugh were born.
Next May’s race will coincide with the inaugural Isle of Man Cyclefest, spanning three days and including a host of events aimed at cyclists of all ages and experience, with events such as a Gran Fondo, hill climb and mountain bike race.
SweetSpot, who besides the Pearl Izumi Tour Series also organise the Aviva Tour of Britain, Aviva Women’s Tour and, in partnership with London Marathon the Prudential RideLondon weekend, visited the island earlier this year.
Announcing the three-year deal, the Surrey-based company’s commercial director, Alistair Grant, said: “Following our visit to the Isle of Man to meet the team and recce the proposed course we were hugely impressed with both the Isle of Man and the professionalism, knowledge and proposals from the Isle of Man Cyclefest organising team so we approached the organisers about extending our agreement to cover the next three years.”
He added: “The Isle of Man has great potential to be one of the best cycling destinations in the British Isles and we look forward to working with the team in a long term partnership to unlock that potential.”
Isle of Man Cyclefest director Paul Phillips said: “This agreement is a great endorsement of the work that our team has put in to date.
“Agreeing a long term partnership with the UK’s leading cycling event organiser will help us to build a strong cycling festival that combines the thrill and excitement of seeing some of the UK’s leading professional cyclists in close circuit racing with mass participation events that are designed to appeal to cyclists of all ages and abilities.
“The media coverage, particularly a dedicated ITV4 show on the Isle of Man round of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series, will not only promote the race but will also give us a platform to promote Isle of Man Cyclefest presented by Isle of Man Bank and the Island as a whole.”
Full information on the Isle of Man Cyclefest can be found on its website.
Add new comment
2 comments
can only be good especially for those who remember Cycle Week (as was) and those who follow the local Youth Tour.
Yep remember cycle week the whole thing was a package, train, ferry, b&b, and i think you chose what races to do i lined up in castletown and the front row was les west, brian jolly and dave rollinson i was near the back stayed in the same place for an hour and a lap happy days.