One of the most anticipated races on the British domestic cycling calendar, the Tour of the Reservoir, takes place this weekend.
Some of the country’s best riders will be in the north east to contest round 5 of the men’s HSBC UK | National Road Series, and round 4 of the women’s HSBC UK | National Road Series – the Alexandra Tour of the Reservoir.
Both the men and the women will complete two stages, over Saturday and Sunday, in a race that could be pivotal as both series move towards the business end of competition.
The women will get racing under way on both days, with current series leader Rebecca Durrell (Brother UK – Tifosi p/b OnForm) looking to extend her dominant advantage at the top of the standings.
Jos Lowden (Drops) and Anna Henderson (Brother UK – Tifosi p/b OnForm) are Durrell’s closest challengers at present, and they will both also line up at the Tour of the Reservoir.
Dame Sarah Storey won stage 1 at last year’s event, and she will be back this year, joined by Storey Racing team-mate Elynor Backstedt, who has enjoyed stellar success on the continent so far this season.
Anna Christian (Drops), who took part in the recent OVO Energy Women’s Tour, is also set to race, as are Pfeiffer Georgi (Team Sunweb), Molly Weaver (Orbea Racing Team) and Eluned King (Liv Cycling Club/Halo Cycles).
On the men’s side, Rory Townsend, who won last weekend’s Circuit of the Mendips, will look to build upon that victory in the north east.
He’ll be joined by a strong Canyon DHB p/b Bloor Homes contingent, including Alex Paton, Max Stedman and Daniel Pearson.
Series leader Ian Bibby lines up for Madison Genesis, while the winners of the last two Tour of the Reservoir events, Tom Moses (Madison Genesis) and Tom Stewart (Canyon DHB p/b Bloor Homes) will be eyeing a repeat performance.
For most riders, the Tour of the Reservoir will provide their final competitive action before the 2019 HSBC UK | National Road Championships, which take place in Norfolk next week. The time trials will be contested on Thursday, while the new national road race champions will be crowned
