IOW start, Bath finish, for 2015 Pearl Izumi Tour Series as dates anounced

The 2015 Pearl Izumi Tour Series will have its finale in road.cc’s home town of Bath – one of four first time venues for the city-centre racing series which unfolds during May and June, the others being Motherwell in Scotland, Ryde on the Isle of Wight, and Croydon.

The 12-round event will also feature the debut in the competition of two of the most high profile domestic teams launched in recent years – Sir Bradley Wiggins Team Wiggins, which the world and Olympic time trial champion joins from Team Sky after Paris-Roubaix in April, and England cricketer Matt Prior’s ONE Pro Cycling venture.

Beginning in Ryde on 14 May, the competition will also return to previous host venues, Redditch, Aberystwyth, Durham, Barrow, Canary Wharf and Peterborough.

Kellie Parsons, marketing director of Madison, which distributes Pearl Izumi in the UK, said: "This is our third year as title sponsor of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series. Last year's Series was a huge success and the line-up of venues sets the tone for an exciting five weeks of racing.”

Race director Mick Bennett of organisers SweetSpot added: "We are delighted to announce the seventh season of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series with prestigious new venues and high-profile new teams.

"The season ahead is certainly going to be highly-competitive and we look forward to what will be an action packed five weeks of competition with Britain's fastest teams vying for the title.

"As always we have tried to challenge our teams with something new, so we have four new circuits plus what will be a very tough hill climb event as a part of the Aberystwyth event.”

Besides ONE Pro Cycling and Team Wiggins, the competition will feature three other UCI Continental teams registered in Great Britain –Madison Genesis, NFTO Pro Cycling and Team Raleigh-GAC – plus Pedal Heaven RT, SportGrub Kuota and Velosure Starley Primal.

Five of the 12 rounds will also feature races in the women’s Grand Prix Series, with details to be announced shortly.

Round One       Thursday 14 May         Ryde, Isle of Wight (including TTT)
Round Two       Tuesday 19 May          Redditch
Round Three     Friday 22 May           Aberystwyth (including Hill Climb)
Round Four      Tuesday 26 May          Motherwell
Round Five      Thursday 28 May         Durham
Round Six       Friday 29 May           Barrow
Round Seven     Tuesday 2 June          Croydon
Round Eight     Thursday 4 June         Canary Wharf
Round Nine      Tuesday 9 June          Peterborough
Round Ten       Thursday 11 June        Bath