17 June 2010
Tour Series stars put rivalries aside to back The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Rides
Pro cyclists Kristian House and Ed Clancy MBE are putting track rivalries in the gruelling Halfords Tour Series aside to urge people across the UK to 'Unite ByCycling' and get into the saddle themselves for The Prostate Cancer Charity.
Cycling legend House, who is currently battling it out in the event with his team Rapha Condor Sharp is backing the Charity’s cycling events taking place this September. The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Rides offer people the exciting opportunity to ride in the tracks of the pros on three stages of the official Tour of Britain route, the UK's premier cycling road race.
National Road Race Champion 2009 House – enjoying the position as the highest scoring individual rider in the Halfords Tour Series – said: “The Tour Series is going brilliantly for me so far and I’m feeling really, really good about our chances. It’s been great seeing so many people lining the roads to cheer us on.
“I had a fantastic time at The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Ride in Stoke-on-Trent last year. There was a really good crowd and it was a lot of fun. As well as being a good trial run for the main Tour of Britain event, I was really happy to show my support for The Prostate Cancer Charity. I take part in a lot of professional events, but I also love cycling with my family and friends. That’s why I could really relate to the Charity’s ‘Unite ByCycling’ initiative, which aims to get everyone on two wheels to raise funds and awareness of the disease, whatever their cycling ability. The beauty of these events is that there is a distance for everyone. I hope as many people as possible will sign up.”
Meanwhile, World Championship team pursuit gold medallist, Ed Clancy, a member of the Motorpoint Marshalls Pasta team, currently neck and neck with Rapha Condor Sharp on the leaderboard, is also urging people to sign up: "I’m really keen to get people up and down the country involved in cycling. Everyone who signs up to take part in The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Rides is helping to raise awareness of the disease, which kills 10,000 men in the UK every year."
Olympic gold medallist Bradley Wiggins CBE, who is also backing the Charity's Tour Rides says: “Keeping fit and staying healthy are really important aspects of cycling for me. That’s why The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Rides are such great events. You get an amazing chance to follow in the tracks of professional cyclists on part of The Tour of Britain route and you’re also helping a cause that’s really important for men's health."
Other leading cyclists are also adding their support to the Charity's call for cyclists of all abilities to come together on two wheels to help raise funds to fight prostate cancer and awareness of the disease, including TV cycling commentator and king of the 'Liggettisms' Phil Liggett MBE and four times world champion, Hugh Porter MBE.
Phil Liggett added his words to the Tour Ride buzz: “Having covered cycling for more than 40 years, including the Tour de France for the past 37, I think I have seen most combinations of a great sport. The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Rides are an excellent idea and it is fantastic to see how enthusiastically the Charity is backing the sport. More importantly, the Charity is making us realise just how aggressive the disease is and that we males are all likely victims and must be conscious of this. I encourage you all to give the Tour Rides a real go with your pals and sign up today.”
Legendary cycling World Title winner turned commentator, Hugh Porter, said: “Over the years I've attended hundreds if not thousands of cycling events, but The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Rides are one of the best ways I've seen of bringing together cyclists of all ages and abilities - from professional riders and keen cycling fans to complete beginners who are just keen to get involved or have a family day out. The Tour Rides are a one-off opportunity to have a highly enjoyable, memorable day following in the tracks of professional riders on The Tour of Britain whilst also raising awareness for an important cause.”
In a brand new event for 2010, cyclists will be able to tackle even more of The Tour of Britain in a tough but spectacularly scenic route crossing the South West, travelling 175km from Minehead to the South Devon coast or alternatively covering part of the route over a distance of 70km or the shorter, family-friendly 2km on Sunday 5 September.
Stoke-on-Trent, which saw 1,300 riders participate in the inaugural Tour Ride last year - including British Road Race Champion House - will again play host to cyclists, offering a gruelling 161km route which starts and finishes in Stoke-on-Trent in the City’s centenary year, as well as an 80km challenge event and a 5 – 25km family ride on Sunday 26 September.
In London, cyclists will preview the final stage of The Tour of Britain just hours before the pros on Saturday 18 September, taking in some of the capital’s most futuristic landmarks.
With The Tour Rides and The Tour of Britain itself just a few months away in September and TV coverage of The Tour de France due to start in July, this summer is the perfect time to get on your bikes and sign up for a Tour Ride.
The Prostate Cancer Charity's Head of Community Fundraising, Claire Walsh, said: "We are thrilled to have so many respected names in the world of cycling supporting The Prostate Cancer Charity's Tour Rides. It is a great testament to our events and we are hoping that this year will allow us to build further on last year’s huge success. The aim of the Unite ByCycling initiative is to bring people from across Great Britain together in the fight against prostate cancer – the most common cancer in men in the UK. I would encourage people across the nation to check out the Tour Ride website and sign up today."
To take part in The Prostate Cancer Charity's Tour Rides, visit www.tourride.co.uk.
The Prostate Cancer Charity Rides cost £40 for the full stage distance, £30 for the 75km and 80km distances and £20 for a family of four to do the 5km-25km Family Ride.
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For further information please contact:
The Prostate Cancer Charity
Eddi Hamilton, Claire Blackburn or Vivienne Francis on 0208 222 7648/7687/7136. Out of hours contact: 0798 432 5001. Email: eddi.hamilton@prostate-cancer.org.uk claire.blackburn@prostate-cancer.org.uk or vivienne.francis@prostate-cancer.org.uk
The Tour of Britain
Craig Brophy
brophyc@thetour.co.uk
+44 (0)7919 153 227
THE PROSTATE CANCER CHARITY TOUR RIDES: Fact Box
* In a brand new event for 2010, cyclists will be able to tackle a tough route across the scenic South West, travelling 175km from Minehead to the South Devon coast or covering part of the route over distances of 70km and 2km, on Sunday 5 September.
* Stoke-on-Trent, which saw 1,300 riders participate in the inaugural Tour Ride last year including British Road Race Champion Kristian House, will again play host to cyclists, offering a 161km route which starts and finishes in Stoke-on-Trent, as well as 80km and 25km events, on Sunday 26 September. The 25km course has been designed with families in mind and is a circular course beginning and ending in Stoke-on-Trent. The route follows carefully selected quiet roads and tow paths which are well signed, marshalled and with a picturesque well-stocked feed station on route.
* There will also be an event on the London stage of The Tour of Britain, which will take cyclists on a route past some of the most iconic landmarks in the capital, on Saturday 18 September, prior to the final stage of The Tour of Britain.
The Prostate Cancer Charity
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer diagnosed in men in the UK. Every year in the UK 35,000 men are diagnosed with prostate cancer. One man dies every hour of prostate cancer in the UK
African Caribbean men are three times more likely to develop prostate cancer than white men
The Prostate Cancer Charity is striving for a world where lives are no longer limited by prostate cancer. The Charity is fighting prostate cancer on every front - through research, support, information and campaigning
If you have any queries about prostate cancer, call The Prostate Cancer Charity's confidential Helpline 0800 074 8383 which is staffed by specialist nurses and open from 10am to 4pm Monday to Friday and Wednesdays from 7 - 9pm or visit www.prostate-cancer.org.uk
About The Tour of Britain
SweetSpot Group Ltd is the company behind the successful revival of The Tour of Britain, re-launching the event in 2004 after a five-year absence from the calendar. SweetSpot is a sports marketing and events company specialising in the creation and execution of high quality, commercially successful, annual sporting events.
As well as The Tour of Britain, SweetSpot was responsible for facilitating the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in London 2007 and provided logistical support for Honda’s Earth Dreams Tour. For more information, please visit: www.sweetspotgroup.co.uk