Top cyclist to visit Cullompton Community College

THE Tour of Britain is just days away, and schoolchildren in

Cullompton are expected to turn out in force when the bikers race through the

town.

In the build up to the two South West Stages, which will race through the

region  and through Cullompton on Wednesday

15 September, Rapha-Condor-Sharp rider Jonathan Tiernan-Locke will be at

Cullompton Community College on Monday 6 September.

Jonathan, who is from Devon, will be making his Tour of Britain debut this

year. He said: “I’m really looking forward to racing in The Tour, particularly

in front of a home crowd on the South West stages.

“I’m familiar with a lot of the roads on the stages in Devon

and Somerset, especially the route from Tavistock which isn’t far from my home

in Plymouth. It will be great to meet some of the school pupils at Cullompton

to see just how excited they are about The Tour, and to help generate even more

interest in cycling.”

Jonathan’s visit coincides with that of the South West Bike Academy–Team Qoroz,

who will attend four schools in Devon next week as part of its unique link with

Devon and Somerset County Councils.

The Academy has attended a number of school assemblies throughout the year, and

at the start of the new term the team will be visiting:

Monday 6 September - Cullompton Community College, 9am-12.30pm;

Uffculme School (secondary), 1.30pm-4pm.

Devon County Council and Somerset County Council are co-hosting the South West

Stages of The Tour of Britain. Stage Four will take the riders coast-to-coast

over 107 miles (171kms) from Minehead to Teignmouth on Tuesday 14 September. On

Stage Five, the following day, they will clock up another 109 miles (176 kms)

as they set out from Tavistock and finish in Glastonbury.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and

Transportation added: “We’re delighted that Jonathan is taking time out from

his final preparations to visit Cullompton Community College. With the help of

the South West Bike Academy we’re hoping to get future generations excited

about cycling.

“These school and college visits have been incredibly

inspiring and popular throughout the year. If it helps get youngsters

interested then it can provide us with the long term benefits of improving the

environment by using green travel, reducing congestion and improving health. It

demonstrates that The Tour can have a lasting impact on the South West.”

Team manager David Walters and some of his riders from the Academy, who race as

Team Qoroz, will be encouraging pupils to take up cycling or cycle more for

fitness and fun.

South West Bike Academy-Team Qoroz manager David Walters said: “It’s always

rewarding to see the enthusiasm of the pupils when we visit a school. Our

riders aren’t much older than some of the pupils so they can relate to them,

and it’s pleasing for us to be able to promote cycling in all of its forms.

It’s not just a fantastic sport - cycling is also a great leisure activity that

can be enjoyed by all the family. We’re trying to bring the excitement

generated by cycling and The Tour to schools across Devon and Somerset.”

The Academy currently has six riders, racing across all disciplines of the

sport - road, time-trials and track. Competing throughout the country at elite

level, they have had five race victories this season, as well as 35 top 10

performances and a podium place for Tom Stockdale in the National 10-mile

Time-Trial for Juniors. The team comprises of Hugh Wilson, Ben and Tom

Stockdale, Matt Ullmer, Luke Dunbar and Greta Junker, who is ex-national youth

champion.

For more information on The Tour of Britain 2010 visit

www.southwesttourofbritain.co.uk or www.tourofbritain.co.uk or for information

on the South West Bike Academy go to www.qoroz.co.uk/team/