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Woking's battle of the bikes
For the past two years, Woking Town Centre has been transformed into a high-speed professional cycling circuit for The Tour Series, a ten-stage cycling event.
Woking saw the crème de la crème of the UK's pro-cyclists descend on the town for a second year on 24 June 2010, after securing the grand finale of the Series.
SweetSpot Group Ltd, the organisers and promoters of both The Tour Series and The Tour of Britain, invited Woking to host the final leg of the 2010 Series after 2009's successful event, which saw 10,000 people flock to the town to get a glimpse of the action.
Community races
Business teams, schoolchildren and groups of ladies took to the course ahead of the professional race to get a taste of the thrill of cycling on the town centre circuit.
Terry Eckersley competed in the Business Race with the local organisation, Ypod. He had a dramatic start, pulling a wheelie off the start line but he was soon outclassed by some of the other riders. Here he gives his account of the race:
"I started the race doing a wheelie, surrounded in pole position by many lycra clad racing experts. I was on my mountain bike wearing my urban gear and Ed Hardy skateboarding helmet, which got me into some funny
banterfrom the MC.
I started very fast but the smell of burning rubber soon got to me as most went flying past! I thought I only had to do one lap but I had to do three. It was like my cross country runs as a kid but I couldn't stop for a chat and a ciggie! (I stopped smoking over 20 years ago!). I had much support from friends, Councillors, and the public-It was amazing!!!! I did eventually finish my legs where like frogs legs and my chest was burning. I went home for a shower and a rest and then back to the VIP tent with my wife to watch the real cyclists fly by in a blur! What an amazing day!"
The Halfords Tour Series
Motorpoint - Marshalls Pasta clinched overall victory in The Halfords Tour Series and the Bob Chicken Trophy with a strong display in Woking, placing three riders in the race winning break.
The individual victory on the night though went to Rapha - Condor - Sharp's Dean Windsor, a year after his teammate Dean Downing won.
The teams gave an exciting display, with a hotly contested race battled out in front of crowds who clung to every vantage point in Woking's town centre.
The night ended with a bang, as the victorious riders took to the podium to be crowned winners under the flash of pyrotechnic firework displays and cheers from the mass of onlookers.
Catch a snapshot of the fun
For a reminder of all the action from the 2009 and 2010 Tour Series events in Woking, visit the photo albums in our online gallery.
What do you think?
Would you like to see the Tour Series return to Woking? Email us to let us know your views.
Events such as the Tour Series rely on the support of local businesses through sponsorship. If you are interested in finding out how you can get involved, please email us.