This year the Tour Series, which is sponsored by Worcestershire County Council, Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership, Redditch Borough Council and the Kingfisher Shopping Centre is bigger and better. Local riders, Beth Crumpton and Tom Chandler will be competing – there is a chance to have autographs with both of them and other riders in a special autograph session at 4:15pm inside the Kingfisher Shopping Centre.
Beth from Redditch said: "I always look forward to coming home. The crowds are always so welcoming and everyone comes out to watch. It's so lovely to see familiar faces. I'm really excited to be taking part and being on Team Storey."
Local musicians, Keri Whip and Stuart Wolfenden will be entertaining the crowds with music for all of the family. Fresh off the plane from LA where she has been recording, Keri will officially start the entertainment for the event. Stuart Wolfenden, who has toured with Ed Sheeran on the Birmingham leg of his tour, will warm up the crowds before the official presentations to the winner of the races.
The official breakdown of the event is as follows:
1:30pm OPENING CELEBRATION
Community performances and entertainment from Keri Whip from Church Green West
2:45pm MEN’S TEAM TRIAL
Sponsored by Kingfisher Shopping Centre
4:00pm ITALIAN PURSUIT COMMUNITY RACE
Redditch Road and Path Cycling Club 0.9 mile time trial. Competitors sign on at 2:30pm near hospitality tent. First rider at 4pm, then at 30 second intervals.
4:15 - 4:45pm AUTOGRAPH SESSION
Worcester Square, Kingfisher Shopping Centre (near Costa Coffee)
4:50pm COMMUNITY MASCOT RACE
Church Green West
5:30pm MATRIX FITNESS GRAND PRIX LADIES RACE (ROUND 1 OF 8)
Sponsored by H&W Chamber of Commerce. Podium presentations at 9:10pm
7pm TOUR SERIES WARM UP & AUTOGRAPH OPPORTUNITIES
Start / Finish line
7:30pm – 9pm TOUR SERIES MEN’S RACE (ROUND 1 OF 10)
Podium presentations at 9:10pm, Sponsored by Worcestershire Ambassadors
8:50pm LIVE ENTERTAINMENT
From Stuart Woolfenden @ The Podium, Church Green West
9:10pm AWARDS CEREMONY & PODIUM PRESENTATIONS
Church Green West
Inevitably, road closures are expected and you can keep abreast of these by following @worcstravel – which is updated with all the latest traffic and closure news.