Halfords Tour Series Grand Final comes to Stoke-on-Trent

Spectacular finale to include special Tommy Godwin Team Time Trial 

Stoke-on-Trent will host the Grand Final of the 2012 Halfords Tour Series as part of a spectacular final day of racing that will also see Britain’s ten leading teams go head-to-head in an exciting team time trial event on Thursday 14^th June. 

In addition to the season closing circuit race, the unique televised, team based Series will also feature a team time trial for the first time ever on the final day of racing, named in honour of one of Stoke-on-Trent’s famous sons, cyclist Tommy Godwin. 

Godwin, born in 1912 set the world record for the most miles cycled in a year, but in 2012 the ten Halfords Tour Series teams will be battling it out over two-laps of the city centre circuit for the right to be the Series’ fastest team. 

Councillor Mark Meredith, cabinet member for economic development for Stoke-on-Trent City Council, said: “We are delighted that we as a city are hosting the finals of The Halfords Tour Series and the Johnson Health Tech Womens’ Grand Prix and, of course, the Tommy Godwin Team Time Trial.

“This will be the fourth time we have held The Halfords Tour Series here but the first time we have had the final. The crowds always turn out and people of all ages get involved in the day. We have an excellent partnership with The Halfords Tour Series and I am thrilled that we are remembering one of our most famous sporting sons’ by having the Team Time Trial in the name of Tommy Godwin. 

“In an Olympic year it is really good news and a real coup for the city that such a prestigious sporting event is coming to Stoke-on-Trent.” 

Following the mid-afternoon Tommy Godwin Team Time Trial, Stoke-on-Trent will host the final of the Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series, before the final Halfords Tour Series round of 2012, the traditional action-packed criterium taking place over an hour of racing on the 1.2 kilometre circuit. 

Among those present to officially launch The Halfords Tour Series will be recently crowned World Champion Andy Tennant of defending Series Champions Rapha Condor Sharp, former US Criterium Champion Daniel Holloway of Team Raleigh – GAC and two-time Halfords Tour Series round winner Ian Wilkinson of Endura Racing. 

“We are delighted to be able to officially confirm that Stoke-on-Trent will host the Grand Final of this year’s Halfords Tour Series,” said Technical Director Mick Bennett.  “Stoke-on-Trent City Council have been closely involved in the development of the Series since 2009, so it is fitting that we can bring what will be our biggest ever day of racing to the city this Summer. 

“The Halfords Tour Series remains about much more than just elite racing, and with Stoke-on-Trent City Council we are very pleased at the impact and appeal the event continues to have in the city and beyond, and hope that this year’s Grand Final will encourage even more people to get on their bicycles”. 

The Halfords Tour Series will begin with its first ever visit to Scotland on Tuesday 15^th May, as Kirkcaldy welcomes Round One.  The tough, cobbled climb of Durham heralds Round Two, before a pair of new venues in Oxford and Redditch occupy Week Two of the Series. 

A first ever Friday night race sees the return to Aberystwyth for Round Five, before traditional venues Peterborough and Canary Wharf welcome fast paced, team based action back to their streets. 

The Halfords Tour Series returns to the South West and Devon for Round Eight in Torquay, before the testing Colchester circuit concludes the penultimate week of racing. 

Long-time Series venue Woking hosts Round Ten, before Britain’s top cycling teams head to the Potteries for the Grand Final, where the champions of the 2012 Halfords Tour Series will be crowned.  

The ten teams who will be battling it out for that honour in the 2012 Halfords Tour Series are as follows, led by defending Champions Rapha Condor Sharp.

 

-       Rapha Condor Sharp

-       Cycle Premier – Kovert

-       Endura Racing

-       Metaltek Scott

-       Node4 – Giordana Racing

-       Team Herbalife LeisureLakesBikes.com

-       Team Hope Factory Racing

-       Team IG – Sigma Sport

-       Team Raleigh – GAC

-       Team UK Youth

 

Metaltek Scott, who boast 2010 Canary Wharf winner Tony Gibb amongst their ranks, Team Hope and Team Herbalife LeisureLakesBikes.com will all make their Halfords Tour Series debuts at Round One in Kirkcaldy.

 

Highlights of The Halfords Tour Series will once again be screened on ITV4, with the terrestrial home of cycling showing all the action from every round of the Series the night after the race, with repeats the following day.

2012 Halfords Tour Series Calendar

Round One                                Tuesday 15^th May           Kirkcaldy, Fife

Round Two                                Thursday 17^th May          Durham, County Durham

Round Three                              Tuesday 22^nd May          Oxford, Oxfordshire

Round Four                               Thursday 24^th May          Redditch, Worcestershire

Round Five                                Friday 25^th May              Aberystwyth, Ceredigion

Round Six                                 Tuesday 29^th May           Peterborough, Cambridgeshire

Round Seven                             Thursday 31^st May          Canary Wharf, London

Round Eight                              Tuesday 5^th June            Torquay, Devon

Round Nine                               Thursday 7^th June           Colchester, Essex

Round Ten                                 Tuesday 12^th June          Woking, Surrey

Grand Final / Round Eleven         Thursday 14^th June         Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire