Tour Series announces venues

THE Tour Series has unveiled the venues for its eight rounds.

Late withdrawals from Chester and Kettering means that the competition has been downsized.

Event spokesman Peter Hodges indicated a willingness to return to ten rounds in 2012.

This year's competition kicks off in Durham, in what is likely to be the toughest round of the series.

The constant undulations, corners and cobbles split the bunch to pieces last year, as Malcolm Elliott took victory.

There are debut visits to Aberystwyth - the first Welsh town to feature in the Tour Series - and Oldham, which doubles up as the Greater Manchester round. Both are understood to be flat and untechnical circuits.

In a radical switch around, last year's curtain-raiser Canary Wharf has become the event finale.

Meanwhile, women's Tour Series rounds will be held at Peterborough, Stoke, Oldham and Woking.

Motorpoint won last year's Tour Series, and with the reduced number of rounds this year, the country's premier circuit race series promises to be closer than ever.

Tour Series 2011: dates and venues

First round: Durham, Tuesday May 24

Second round: Aberystwyth, Thursday May 26

Third round: Peterborough, Tuesday May 31*

Fourth round: Colchester, Thursday June 2

Fifth round: Stoke-on-Trent, Tuesday June 7*

Sixth round: Oldham, Thursday June 9*

Seventh round: Woking, Tuesday June 14*

Eighth round: Canary Wharf, Thursday June 16

*includes a women's Tour Series round

Tour Series 2011: teams

Tour Series team announced >>

CyclePremier.com - Metaltek

Endura Racing

Motorpoint

Pendragon - Le Col - Colnago

Rapha-Condor-Sharp

Sigma Sport-Specialized

Team Raleigh

Team UK Youth

Twenty3c-OrbeaWilier-GoSelfDrive.com

NB: Felt-Colbournes, Corley Cycles and Team Herbalife Wheelbase will all take part in two rounds (TBC) as guest teams.

Related links

Women's Tour Series launched