Calendar changes for Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series, Ipswich dropped, Redditch added

A clash in the elite women’s racing calendar means that the final round of the Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series next month, due to take place in Ipswich on the last day of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series, has been cancelled. Organsiers SweetSpot have confirmed that the competition will continue to feature five rounds, with Redditch in Worcestershire stepping in to host a round of the series, now in its third year.

SweetSpot say that the change has been necessitated by “the incredible success of women's cycling and the growth in the number of women's only events.” The original programme envisaged a round in Aylsham, Norfolk, on Thursday 13 June, followed by that finale in Ipswich 24 hours later.

However, with a two-day national elite women’s event taking place in Blackpool on Saturday 15 and Sunday 16 June, that meant competitors fcing four straight days of racing with a long transfer in between.

According to SweetSpot, “This decision has been made in the interests of the competitors and Ipswich remains totally committed to the development of women's cycling. It is hoped that in 2014 the calendar can be adjusted to ensure that a women's race returns to Ipswich.”

It adds: “After discussions between all stakeholders, Suffolk County Council have very kindly agreed that the Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series event scheduled for Ipswich will now be replaced by further events for the elite professional male cyclists who will be racing at Ipswich as a part of The Pearl Izumi Tour Series.

“Details of this exciting additional event will be announced in the coming weeks.”

The Pearl Izumi Tour Series programme for 2013 is shown below, together with the revised programme for the Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series. Once again, ITV4 will be showing highlights of each round the following evening, at 10pm – that’s a later time slot than in previous years.

The Pearl Izumi Tour Series 2013

Round One       Tuesday 14th May      Kirkcaldy, Fife
Round Two       Thursday 16th May     Durham, County Durham
Round Three     Tuesday 21st May      Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Round Four      Friday 24th May       Aberystwyth, Ceredigion
Round Five      Tuesday 28th May      Torquay, Devon
Round Six       Thursday 30th May     Colchester, Essex
Round Seven     Tuesday 4th June      Redditch, Worcestershire
Round Eight     Thursday 6th June     Canary Wharf, London
Round Nine      Tuesday 11th June     Woking, Surrey
Round Ten       Thursday 13th June    Aylsham, Norfolk
Round Eleven    Friday 14th June      Ipswich, Suffolk

The Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series 2012

Round One       Tuesday 21st May      Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire
Round Two       Thursday 30th May     Colchester, Essex
Round Three     Tuesday 4th June      Redditch, Worcestershire
Round Four      Tuesday 11th June     Woking, Surrey
Round Five      Thursday 13th June    Aylsham, Norfolk