onionbagblog

Published as part of the Keep Colchester Cycling project.

With exactly a month to go before the Halfords Tour Series rolls into Colchester, confirmation of the teams and riders has revealed that an Olympic world record holder will be racing around our town on 2nd June.

Ed Clancy was part of the Great Britain team pursuit squad that broke the world record in Beijing back in 2008. The Rapha Condor Sharp rider has been confirmed as one of the riders that will be taking part in the Colchester Criterium.

Other teams include Team UK Youth, who feature Olympic Bronze medalist Steven Burke and former Tour de France stage winner Magnus Backstedt amongst their roster.

This is the second time that Colchester has won the right to stage a leg of the town centre sprint race. Seven other UK towns or cities have also been chosen, with high profile live coverage on ITV.

The route has yet to be decided, but the Tour raced around Head Street, St John’s Street, Osborne Street, St Botolph’s Street, and Queen Street back in 2009. The return to Colchester is seen as another opportunity to showcase the achievements of the Cycle Town status.

Local cycling groups are already planning a programme of events to coincide with the criterium. The Colchester Cycling Group has asked for any volunteers to step forward and help marshal the course. Interested volunteers can contact Abby over here.

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