RACE MANUAL 10–31 MAY 2018 STAY AHEAD OF THE PACK Watch Tour Series on ITV4 at these times: Round One Redditch 22:45 Saturday 12 May Round Two Motherwell 17:45 Thursday 17 May Round Three Aberdeen 18:00 Monday 21 May Round Four Durham 17:15 Thursday 24 May Round Five Aberystwyth 22:00 Monday 28 May Round Six Stevenage 23:00 Wednesday 30 May Round Seven Wembley Park 23:00 Thursday 31 May Round Eight Salisbury (women’s race) 23:00 Monday 4 June #OVOTourSeries Salisbury (men’s race) 23:00 Tuesday 5 June Series Recap 10:30 Saturday 10 June www.tourseries.co.uk Please check listings and website for latest, including repeat showings 2 TOUR SERIES RACE MANUAL 2018 WWW.TOURSERIES.CO.UK FOREWORD It gives me great pleasure to welcome you all to the 10th edition of the OVO Energy Tour Series. It barely feels like 10 minutes ago that we were sitting down to discuss the creation of the Tour Series -a concept that remains unique - and then preparing for our very first event back in Milton Keynes in May 2009. Now a decade later the Series is at the very heart of the season for both our British men and women’s teams, and a key reason for the continued investment of sponsors to the domestic racing scene. We are delighted to have a fantastic new title sponsor for the Series in this of all years, and would like to welcome OVO Energy across from the Women’s Tour and Tour of Britain. Their commitment going forwards shows the continuing appeal of cycling and its ability to reach communities of all sizes across the UK. We have eight great venues this May and are delighted to be rolling out the women’s Series to all of them as we move closer to our goal of two identical competitions under the same umbrella brand. From Aberdeen to Aberystwyth, and our Grand Final at the historic city of Salisbury, we are looking forward to the competition in some very special locations. In particular we are very proud that Wiltshire County Council have chosen the Tour Series as an event to showcase Salisbury after recent events in the town. As we prepare for our 10th season I’d like to pay tribute to all of the teams and riders who have competed in the 92 events to date. We have seen riders develop from their first Tour Series events to winning World and Olympic titles, competing in the Grand Tours, managing teams in their own right and even making careers as broadcasters. Everyone of them who has ever pinned on a number in the Series has been part of our success and helped to enthral and inspire the many hundreds of thousands of spectators who have watched. In particular the team of JLT Condor have set the standard, being a part of the Series every year since its creation and taking the overall title on four occasions. They have provided some of the most iconic moments over the past decade, and I hope that they will continue to do so for many years to come. I would like to thank everyone involved in the OVO Energy Tour Series, not just from the team of officials, crew and volunteers who will be putting on the 2018 Series, but everyone who has been involved since year one and helped to make the events what they are today. I wish you all the best for this year’s competition. Here’s to the next 10 years! Mick Bennett Race Director, OVO Energy Tour Series 3 TOUR SERIES RACE MANUAL 2018 WWW.TOURSERIES.CO.UK OVERVIEW CONTENTS The OVO Energy Tour Series 2018 takes place at eight town and city centre venues Sponsors across the UK with a revised calendar for the tenth season of the unique, team based, 5 televised Series. In 2018 the entire Tour Series will take place within May, starting in Roll of honour 6 Redditch on the 10 May before the final event in Salisbury on the 31 May. Round 1 Redditch 7 For the first time in 2018 women’s events will also be held in each location. Round 2 Motherwell 9 The information within the manual provides an overview of the Series, and each of the Round 3 Aberdeen 11 eight locations, which include the return of a Welsh event in Aberystwyth plus a first Round 4 Durham 13 ever round in Wiltshire, in the city of Salisbury. Round 5 Aberystwyth 15 Within the manual you will be able to find details of the circuits, important address Round 6 Stevenage 17 and event schedules, all important for the safe and efficient running of the OVO Energy Tour Series. Round 7 Wembley Park 19 Round 8 Salisbury 21 The Tour Series regulations 23 Round 1 Thursday 10 May Redditch* Matrix Grand Prix Series regulations 29 Round 2 Tuesday 15 May Motherwell Accreditation 31 Media 32 Round 3 Thursday 17 May Aberdeen Organisation 33 Round 4 Tuesday 22 May Durham (includes men’s Hill Climb event) Staff Hotels 33 Tour Series Rider list 34 Round 5 Saturday 26 May Aberystwyth Round 6 Monday 28 May Stevenage (includes men’s Team Time Trial event) Round 7 Tuesday 29 May Wembley Park** Round 8 Thursday 31 May Salisbury *Also includes the Brother Corporate Grand Prix **Also includes the Club Peloton Real Estate Relay 4 TOUR SERIES RACE MANUAL 2018 WWW.TOURSERIES.CO.UK SPONSORS The Tour Series would like to thank the following for their support: Official Partners Official Suppliers Host Broadcaster & Media Partner Event Partners Race Organisers Our thanks also go to SweetSpot would also like to thank Century TV (TV production), Corporate & Sporting Events (accommodation), CSM, HS Sports (Timing), Live (event branding), Live Trakway (barriers & fencing), Sotic (website) and SW Pix (Photography). 5 TOUR SERIES RACE MANUAL 2018 WWW.TOURSERIES.CO.UK ROLL OF HONOUR TOUR SERIES TOUR SERIES MEN’S CHAMPIONS WOMEN’S CHAMPIONS 2017 JLT Condor 2017 Drops 2016 JLT Condor 2016 Podium Ambition 2015 Madison Genesis 2015 Podium Ambition 2014 Rapha Condor JLT 2014 Podium Ambition 2013 Team UK Youth 2013 MG Maxifuel 2012 Endura Racing 2012 Matrix Fitness - Prendas 2011 Rapha Condor Sharp 2011 Horizon Fitness 2010 Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta 2009 Team Halfords Bikehut EISBERG POINTS WINNER (MEN’S) EISBERG POINTS WINNER (WOMEN’S) 2017 Sebastian Mora / 2017 Ejay Harris / Storey Racing Team Raleigh GAC 2016 Nikki Juniper / Team Ford EcoBoost 2016 Rory Townsend / Pedal Heaven 2015 Nikki Juniper / Giordana Triton 2015 Morgan Kneisky / 2014 Helen Wyman / Matrix Fitness Team Raleigh GAC 2013 Hannah Barnes / MG Maxifuel 2014 Jon Mould / NFTO 2012 Annie Simpson / 2013 Tom Scully / Team Raleigh GAC Matrix Fitness Prendas 2012 Bernard Sulzberger / 2011 Hannah Barnes / Motorpoint Team Raleigh 2011 Steve Lampier / Sigma Sport Specialized 2010 Graham Briggs / Rapha Condor Sharp 2009 Russell Downing / CandiTV Pinarello 6 TOUR SERIES RACE MANUAL 2018 WWW.TOURSERIES.CO.UK OPENING ROUND REDDITCH THURSDAY 10 MAY SCHEDULE SPECIAL INSTRUCTIONS 0500 Partial Circuit Closure 1645 Signing on opens FOR TEAMS 0900 Start/Finish straight closes to traffic 1645 Autograph session at bandstand Separate pit areas are available 0900 SweetSpot team arrive on site to technical zone 1700 VIP Hospitality Opens for men’s and women’s teams. to commence build up 1715 Signing on closes Both areas are accessed via 0930 Concord barriers deployed on Unicorn Hill 1720 Riders line up and are called forward to the line Easemore Road (Circuit entry 1030 Gantry towers assembled, fire service arrive to 1730 Tour Series Women’s Race Starts point on map). Additional parking site to provide water for ballast 1745 Eisberg Sprint 1 (approx) areas are available adjacent to 1030 Technical and Promo Signage all in position 1800 Eisberg Sprint 2 (approx) each pit for larger team vehicles. 1030 Catering team arrive and begin setup 1815 Tour Series Women’s Race Ends 1100 Tour Village exhibitors all in place 1825 Tour Series Women’s podium presentation For issues on the day please 1200 Gantry crosspiece completed, branded and raised 1830 Mascots report to rear of podium contact Series Manager 1200 Finish Line Tape applied to road 1845 Men’s team cars in pits Mark Leyland on 07931 110 298 1200 PA Unit operational 1845 Riders warming up on circuit or [email protected] 1200 Media Centre opens 1845 Signing on opens 1230 Finish Straight build complete 1915 Signing on Closes 1400 Opening celebration 1920 Riders line-up and are called forward to the line 1400 Stewards report to Event Control for briefing 1930 Tour Series Men’s Race Start 1400 Rest of circuit closes 1945 Eisberg Sprint Lap 1 (approx) 1420 Community Mascot Race 2000 Eisberg Sprint Lap 2 (approx) 1430 Support activity on finish straight ends 2015 Eisberg Sprint Lap 3 (approx) 1430 Circuit checked and open for Brother Corporate 2030 5 Laps to Go Bell GP warm-up 2045 Tour Series Men’s Race Finish (approx) 1500 Rider changing facility opens 2100 Tour Series Men’s podium presentation 1500 Brother Corporate Grand Prix 2110 Team vehicles begin to leave pits 1530 Women’s Team Managers Meeting 2115 15-min gap to allow crowd dispersal 1600 Redditch Road & Path CC Activity on full circuit from finish area 1600 Additional volunteers report for briefing 2115 All crew in position to commence derig 1615 Women’s team cars in pits 2300 Media Centre and Event Control Closes 1630 Men’s Team Managers Meeting 2330 All Units packed up and ready to leave site 1630 Women’s teams warm-up on circuit and sign-on 2330 Litterpick of site at podium 2345 All vehicles leave site 2359 Roads reopen to traffic 7 TOUR SERIES RACE MANUAL 2018 WWW.TOURSERIES.CO.UK OPENING ROUND REDDITCH THURSDAY 10 MAY Course length E A FISHP S 1.4km D O E N M A D O O S R R R E Start/finish S O R D A O Church Green West, D A N D O P Redditch, B97 4DX H PROSPECT HILL S I F LIBRARY Women riders’ changing facility PITS Abbey Stadium, Birmingham Road,