| Tour Series | |
| Region: | Great Britain |
| Discipline: | Road |
| Type: | Criterium series |
| Creator: | Brian Smith |
| Organiser: | Sweetspot |
| Director: | Mick Bennett |
| Number: | 13 (as of 2022) |
| Firstwinner: | Team Halfords Bikehut |
The Tour Series is an annual series of cycling criterium races held in the United Kingdom since 2009. It is televised by ITV4 in the UK. The competition emphasises team effort with individual wins deemed less important.[1]
The races are held over 1 hour of racing plus 5 laps. The team standings for each round are calculated by adding together the positions of the top three riders of each team (5 riders start for each team) and the team with the lowest score wins, and get 10 points for the overall championship. Each team gets 1 point less than the one in front of them, so second gets 9, third gets 8, and so on. In addition, there is the sprint competition. There are three sprints every race, and the top five riders are awarded points based on place: 1st, 5; 2nd, 4; 3rd, 3; 4th, 2 and 5th, 1. There is a competition each round, as well as an overall competition for the whole series.[2]
The first series had 10 rounds across England. The first ever round was held in Milton Keynes, and the final round was held in Southend. Halfords BikeHut had the strongest team, made up largely of powerful sprinters who were suited to the criteriums. Few of the circuits were hilly, which was seen to aid Halfords.
Rounds
| Round | Date | Location | Team winner | Individual winner | Sprint winner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 21 May | Matt Cronshaw | ||||
| 2 | 28 May | Ed Clancy | ||||
| 3 | 2 June | Malcolm Elliott | ||||
| 4 | 4 June | Russell Downing | ||||
| 5 | 9 June | Russell Downing | ||||
| 6 | 11 June | Tony Gibb | ||||
| 7 | 16 June | Dean Downing | ||||
| 8 | 18 June | Russell Downing | ||||
| 9 | 23 June | Darren Lapthorne | ||||
| 10 | 25 June | Russell Downing | ||||
| Series winners | Team Halfords Bikehut | None | Russell Downing | |||
The series was now sponsored by Halfords, who no longer had their own team. There were again 10 rounds, including the round at Durham with its steep cobbled climb. This time Motorpoint, led by veteran Malcolm Elliott came out as victors, with Malcolm himself winning in Durham.
Rounds
| Round | Date | Location | Team winner | Individual winner | Sprint winner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 25 May | Liam Holohan | ||||
| 2 | 27 May | Kristian House | ||||
| 3 | 1 June | Liam Holohan | ||||
| 4 | 3 June | Graham Briggs | ||||
| 5 | 8 June | Graham Briggs | ||||
| 6 | 10 June | Graham Briggs | ||||
| 7 | 15 June | Dean Downing | ||||
| 8 | 17 June | Graham Briggs | ||||
| 9 | 21 June | Kristian House | ||||
| 10 | 24 June | Jefte de Bruin | ||||
| Series winners | None | Graham Briggs | ||||
The series was cut to only 8 rounds. The early stages were dominated by who won all of the first four rounds, both individually and as a team. This run was broken by Team Endura in the next two rounds, firstly winning the individual race, and then in the 6th round in Oldham, winning individually and overall.
Rounds
| Round | Date | Location | Team winner | Individual winner | Sprint winner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 24 May | Kristian House | ||||
| 2 | 26 May | Kristian House | ||||
| 3 | 31 May | Marcel Six | ||||
| 4 | 2 June | Jeroen Janssen | ||||
| 5 | 7 June | Scott Thwaites | ||||
| 6 | 9 June | Rob Partridge | ||||
| 7 | 14 June | Steven Lampier | ||||
| 8 | 16 June | Jonathan McEvoy | ||||
| Series winners | None | Steven Lampier | ||||
There were 11 rounds in the 2012 series. The early stages were dominated by who won all of the first four rounds as a team.
Rounds
| Round | Date | Location | Team winner | Individual winner | Sprint winner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 15 May | Marcel Six | ||||
| 2 | 17 May | Kristian House | ||||
| 3 | 22 May | Marcel Six | ||||
| 4 | 24 May | Bernard Sulzberger | ||||
| 5 | 25 May | Marcel Six | ||||
| 6 | 29 May | Marcel Six | ||||
| 7 | 31 May | Yanto Barker | ||||
| 8 | 5 June | Bernard Sulzberger | ||||
| 9 | 7 June | Graham Briggs | ||||
| 10 | 12 June | Zak Dempster | ||||
| 11 | 14 June | Team Time Trial | ||||
| 12 | Bernard Sulzberger | |||||
| Series winners | None | Bernard Sulzberger | ||||
There were 12 rounds in the 2013 series.
Rounds
| Round | Date | Location | Team winner | Individual winner | Sprint winner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 May | Mike Northey | ||||
| 2 | 16 May | Kristian House | ||||
| 3 | 21 May | Stoke-on-Trent | Tom Scully | |||
| 4 | 24 May | Alexandre Blain | ||||
| 5 | 28 May | Alexandre Blain | ||||
| 6 | 30 May | Richard Lang | ||||
| 7 | 4 June | Metaltek-Knights of Old | Tom Scully | |||
| 8 | 6 June | Chris Opie | ||||
| 9 | 11 June | Tom Scully | ||||
| 10 | 13 June | Dean Downing | ||||
| 11 | 14 June | Team Time Trial | ||||
| 12 | Kristian House | |||||
| Series winners | None | Tom Scully | ||||
There were 10 rounds (and 12 races) in the 2014 series.
Rounds
| Round | Date | Location | Team winner | Individual winner | Sprint winner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 13 May | Stoke-on-Trent | Team Time Trial | |||
| Jon Mould | Jon Mould | |||||
| 2 | 15 May | BAE Systems, Barrow | Graham Briggs | Tom Scully | ||
| 3 | 20 May | Peterborough | Matthew Gibson | Mike Northey | ||
| 4 | 23 May | Aberystwyth | Felix English | Tom Scully | ||
| 5 | 27 May | Durham | Jon Mould | Jon Mould | ||
| 6 | 29 May | Edinburgh | Jon Mould | Jon Mould | ||
| 7 | 3 June | Redditch | Matthieu Boulo | Kristian House | ||
| 8 | 5 June | Canary Wharf | Tobyn Horton | Kristian House | ||
| 9 | 10 June | Woking | Tom Stewart | Jon Mould | ||
| 10 | 13 June | Gorey, Jersey | Matthieu Boulo | Hill climb | ||
| Tom Stewart | Kristian House | |||||
| Series winners | None | Jon Mould | ||||
There were 10 rounds (and 12 races) in the 2015 series.
Rounds
| Round | Date | Location | Team winner | Individual winner | Points winner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 14 May | Ryde | Team Time Trial | |||
| Tom Scully | Tom Stewart | |||||
| 2 | 19 May | Redditch | Jon Mould | Morgan Kneisky | ||
| 3 | 22 May | Aberystwyth | George Harper | Hill climb | ||
| Ed Clancy | Ed Clancy | |||||
| 4 | 26 May | Motherwell | Kristian House | Chris Opie | ||
| 5 | 28 May | Durham | Richard Handley | Richard Handley | ||
| 6 | 29 May | Barrow | Chris Lawless | Morgan Kneisky | ||
| 7 | 2 June | Croydon | Marcin Białobłocki | Tom Stewart | ||
| 8 | 4 June | Canary Wharf | Steele Von Hoff | Jon Mould | ||
| 9 | 9 June | Peterborough | Ed Clancy | Morgan Kneisky | ||
| 10 | 11 June | Bath | Marcin Białobłocki | Marcin Białobłocki | ||
| Series winners | None | Morgan Kneisky | ||||
There were 10 rounds (and 11 races) in the 2016 series.
Rounds
| Round | Date | Location | Team winner | Individual winner | Points winner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 12 May | Ramsey, Isle of Man | Team time trial | |||
| Chris Lawless | Morgan Kneisky | |||||
| 2 | 17 May | Motherwell | Jon Mould | Albert Torres | ||
| 3 | 19 May | Edinburgh | Graham Briggs | Rory Townsend | ||
| 4 | 26 May | Redditch | Jon Mould | Jon Mould | ||
| 5 | 27 May | Aberystwyth | Jon Mould | Tom Stewart | ||
| 6 | 31 May | Durham | Jon Mould | Chris Lawless | ||
| 7 | 2 June | Stoke-on-Trent | Chris Lawless | Chris Lawless | ||
| 8 | 6 June | Stevenage | Jon Mould | Chris Lawless | ||
| 9 | 7 June | Croydon | Jon Mould | Sebastián Mora | ||
| 10 | 9 June | Portsmouth | Alexandre Blain | Chris Lawless | ||
| Series winners | None | Rory Townsend | ||||
There were 10 rounds (and 11 races) in the 2017 series, condensed into the month of May and including Saturday night races for the first time.[3]
Rounds
| Round | Date | Location | Team winner | Individual winner | Points winner | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 9 May | Redditch | Team Time Trial | |||
| Chris Opie | Sebastián Mora | |||||
| 2 | 11 May | Stoke-on-Trent | Brenton Jones | Sebastián Mora | ||
| 3 | 12 May | Northwich | Enrique Sanz | Jonathan McEvoy | ||
| 4 | 16 May | Wembley | Steele Von Hoff | Sebastián Mora | ||
| 5 | 18 May | Croydon | Graham Briggs | Sebastián Mora | ||
| 6 | 20 May | Bath | Connor Swift | Sebastián Mora | ||
| 7 | 23 May | Motherwell | Brenton Jones | Brenton Jones | ||
| 8 | 25 May | Aberdeen | Jack Pullar | Harry Tanfield | ||
| 9 | 27 May | Durham | Tom Pidcock | Connor Swift | ||
| 10 | 29 May | Stevenage | Connor Swift | James Lowsley-Williams | ||
| Series winners | None | Sebastián Mora | ||||
The 2018 series was announced in April, with a scheduled eight rounds and 10 races taking place from 10 to 31 May.[4]
Rounds
| Round | Date | Location | Men's events | Women's events | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team winner | Individual winner | Points winner | Team winner | Individual winner | Points winner | ||||
| 1 | 10 May | Redditch | Gabriel Cullaigh | James Lowsley-Williams | Team Breeze | Megan Barker | Anna Henderson | ||
| 2 | 15 May | Motherwell | Matthew Gibson | Matthew Gibson | Team Breeze | Megan Barker | Megan Barker | ||
| 3 | 17 May | Aberdeen | Ed Clancy | Harry Tanfield | Nikki Juniper | Nikki Juniper | |||
| 4 | 22 May | Durham | Jack Pullar | Hillclimb | colspan=3 | ||||
| Andy Tennant | Matthew Gibson | NJC–Biemme–Echelon | Nikki Juniper | Nikki Juniper | |||||
| 5 | 26 May | Aberystwyth | Harry Tanfield | Matthew Gibson | Anna Henderson | Anna Henderson | |||
| 6 | 28 May | Stevenage | Team time trial | colspan=3 | |||||
| Harry Tanfield | Robert Scott | Team Breeze | Anna Henderson | Anna Henderson | |||||
| 7 | 29 May | Wembley Park | Tom Pidcock | Connor Swift | Team OnForm | Elizabeth-Jane Harris | Elizabeth-Jane Harris | ||
| 8 | 31 May | Salisbury | Ed Clancy | Harry Tanfield | Nikki Juniper | Nikki Juniper | |||
| Series winners | None | Matthew Gibson | Team Breeze | None | Nikki Juniper | ||||
The 2019 series was announced in April, with a scheduled seven rounds taking place from 9 to 25 May.[5]
Rounds
| Round | Date | Location | Men's events | Women's events | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team winner | Individual winner | Points winner | Team winner | Individual winner | Points winner | ||||
| 1 | 9 May | Redditch | Connor Swift | Connor Swift | Brother UK–Tifosi p/b OnForm | Jessica Roberts | Anna Henderson | ||
| 2 | 14 May | Motherwell | Jacob Hennessy | Joey Walker | Team Breeze | Jessica Roberts | Jessica Roberts | ||
| 3 | 16 May | Aberdeen | Alex Paton | Freddie Scheske | Team Breeze | Jessica Roberts | Jo Tindley | ||
| 4 | 18 May | Durham | Joey Walker | Joey Walker | Brother UK–Tifosi p/b OnForm | Anna Henderson | Jessica Roberts | ||
| 5 | 21 May | Birkenhead | Matthew Bostock | Steven Lampier | Brother UK–Tifosi p/b OnForm | Rebecca Durrell | Jo Tindley | ||
| 6 | 23 May | Salisbury | Freddie Scheske | Freddie Scheske | Brother UK–Tifosi p/b OnForm | Rebecca Durrell | Rebecca Durrell | ||
| 7 | 25 May | Brooklands | Rory Townsend | Steven Lampier | Team Breeze | Anna Henderson | Anna Henderson | ||
| Series winners | None | Steven Lampier | Brother UK–Tifosi p/b OnForm | None | Jessica Roberts | ||||
Following the cancellation of the 2020 event, the 2021 series was announced in June, with a scheduled three rounds taking place from 8 to 12 August.[6]
Rounds
| Round | Date | Location | Men's events | Women's events | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team winner | Individual winner | Points winner | Team winner | Individual winner | Points winner | ||||
| 1 | 8 August | Guisborough | Matthew Gibson | Matthew Gibson | Great Britain U23 Track Team | Eluned King | Jo Tindley | ||
| 2 | 10 August | Sunderland | Will Roberts | Will Roberts | Megan Barker | Jo Tindley | |||
| 3 | 12 August | Castle Douglas | Charlie Tanfield | Charlie Tanfield | Megan Barker | Jo Tindley | |||
| Series winners | None | Matthew Gibson | None | Jo Tindley | |||||
The 2022 series venues were announced in February and March, initially with six rounds[7] until a Grand Final in Manchester was added to the schedule.[8]
The series was sponsored by Sportsbreaks.com.[9]
Rounds
| Round | Date | Location | Men's events | Women's events | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Team winner | Individual winner | Points winner | Team winner | Individual winner | Points winner | ||||
| 1 | 2 May | Guisborough | Thomas Mein | Thomas Mein | Pro-Noctis–Rotor–Redchilli Bikes | Sophie Lewis | Jo Tindley | ||
| 2 | 4 May | Galashiels | Jim Brown | Matthew Bostock | Pro-Noctis–Rotor–Redchilli Bikes | Megan Barker | Jo Tindley | ||
| 3 | 10 May | Sunderland | Blake Quick | Harry Tanfield | Jadan–Vive le Velo | Sammie Stuart | Suzetta Guerrini | ||
| 4 | 12 May | Stranraer | Luke Lamperti | Harry Tanfield | Pro-Noctis–Rotor–Redchilli Bikes | Emma Jeffers | Sammie Stuart | ||
| 5 | 19 May | Clacton-on-Sea | Matthew Bostock | Matthew Bostock | Team Spectra Wiggle p/b Vitus | Sammie Stuart | Sammie Stuart | ||
| 6 | 21 May | Barking | Ollie Peckover | Matthew Bostock | Torelli–Assure–Cayman Islands–Scimitar | Ellen McDermott | Jo Tindley | ||
| 7 | 24 May | Manchester | Matthew Bostock | Matthew Bostock | Team Boompods | Emma Jeffers | Sammie Stuart | ||
| Series winners | None | Matthew Bostock | Pro-Noctis–Rotor–Redchilli Bikes | None | Jo Tindley | ||||
Event organisers SweetSpot announced in February 2023 that the Tour Series would not take place in 2023, citing pressures on local authority funding and wider economic challenges as the reasons. They stated that they would work on plans for the Series to return in 2024.[10]