On Bank Holiday Monday, 2 May, Guisborough will host the opening round of the UK’s leading televised cycle race, the Tour Series, for the second year running.
The historic market town welcomed the first-ever Yorkshire round of the team-based event in August 2021, which drew huge crowds to spur the cyclists on in one of the first major spectator events in the borough post-lockdown.
This year, the pro cyclists are back and will be riding the same 1.3 kilometre (0.8 mile) route, racing round fast, twisting laps of some of the town’s most central streets, including Westgate, Church Street and Redcar Road, passing by St Nicholas Church and the 11th century Gisborough Priory.
Like last year, it will be a fun filled day of music, sports and cultural activities for all the family, in addition to the free-to-watch main event – highlights of which will be broadcast on ITV4.
Mary Lanigan, Leader of Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, said:
“We are delighted to welcome back the Tour Series to Guisborough. It was a fantastic event and turn-out last year, even in the midst of Covid restrictions. This year, we’ll no doubt see even greater numbers coming to spectate and get involved in the activities on offer.
It’s a brilliant celebration of the sport and opportunity to showcase our corner of the world, which is becoming ever popular with professional cyclists. We are very lucky to live in an area which lends itself so well to events like this, which in turn benefit our local economy.”
Councillor Louise Westbury, cabinet member for Climate Change and Culture, added:
“Our teams will be doing everything possible to ensure the event runs as smoothly and successfully as last year’s. The televised race is another excellent opportunity to show the world what a great place our area is to visit.”
“We are developing a strong reputation for professional cycling events now, and seeing these athletes compete up close is so exciting and inspiring for our residents too – especially our young people.”
Mick Bennett, Tour Series race director, said:
“Guisborough will always hold a special place in our hearts because it hosted the first Tour Series round after the COVID-enforced break. The welcome everybody in the town gave us was truly uplifting and unforgettable.”
“The Tour Series teams are always eager to hit the ground running, so I know this year’s Guisborough round will produce a thrilling, free-to-watch spectacle from lights out to chequered flag on the May Bank Holiday Monday.”
The Tour Series’ return to Guisborough will be the first of two major cycling events to take place in the borough this year.
Stage four of the Tour of Britain, the UK’s most prestigious cycle race, will start in nearby Redcar on Wednesday 7 September before heading south into North Yorkshire. This event will mark the start of a summer full of activities and sports programmes in Redcar and Cleveland for everyone to take part in and get active.
Last year’s Guisborough round saw dramatic victories for eventual men’s champions Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling and the talented Great Britain Under-23 women’s team. It was the first Tour Series event to take place in over 800 days, owing to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Guisborough joins Sunderland on the 2022 Tour Series schedule, with the north-east city also holding a round for the second successive year, this time on Tuesday 10 May. Details of the next round to join Guisborough and Sunderland on the Tour Series calendar will be made later this week.
