20 Aug 2010

Jonathan Bellis to return to The Tour with Team Saxo Bank

Next three provisional team line-ups for The Tour announced

Organisers of The Tour of Britain are pleased to announce the provisional line-ups from the latest three teams to officially confirm their participation in the UK’s biggest professional cycle race.

World number two squad Team Saxo Bank and top domestic outfits Sigma Sport – Specialized and Team Raleigh will all be among the 17 teams taking part in this year’s Tour, which begins in the North West of England at Rochdale on Saturday 11th September.

Headlining the Team Saxo Bank roster is Jonathan Bellis, who will be continuing his long road to recovery a year on from the near-fatal scooter accident in Italy that left him in a coma. The 21-year-old Manxman made his comeback at the British National Road Race Championships in June.

It will be Bellis’ first Tour of Britain since 2008, when he finished 12th and impressed whilst riding as a stagiare for the then Team CSC – Saxo Bank.

Also in the Saxo Bank provisional line-up for The Tour alongside Bellis are Polish Time-Trial Champion Jaroslav Marycz, Jonas Aaen Jorgensen, double Four Days of Dunkirk stage winner earlier this season Alex Rasmussen and Frank Høj.

“I’m delighted to welcome Team Saxo Bank back to The Tour, as they have been one of our staunchest supporters, and have enjoyed great success in the event,” said Race Director Mick Bennett. “It is fantastic to have the world’s number two ranked team riding The Tour, a team who I’m sure we will be hearing a lot more of next year thanks to their recent signing of Tour de France champion Alberto Contador.

“I am also pleased to see Jonathan returning to The Tour this year, and I, and all of the organising team, wish him all the best for the race. I’m sure he will see a lot of support from the British public during The Tour.”

Making their Tour of Britain debuts alongside the world’s number two ranked team will be Sigma Sport – Specialized and Team Raleigh, led by Simon Richardson and former top ten finisher Dan Fleeman respectively.

Leading Sigma Sport – Specialized will be Somerset rider Richardson, who will be eagerly anticipating Stage Five from Tavistock to Glastonbury, as he hails from nearby Shepton Mallet.

This will be Richardson’s fourth Tour of Britain, with his best result coming in 2008 when he was 17th overall. Joining Richardson in the Sigma Sport – Specialized team will be Irishman Stephen Gallagher, Dutchman Wouter Sybrandy and a trio of Brits in Tom Murray, Kit Gilham and Matt Stephens.

Alongside Fleeman, who finished seventh overall at the Tour des Pyrenees at the weekend, Raleigh will have Welsh Champion Dale Appleby, Tom Barras, Richard Handley, Liam Holohan and Daniel Shand, with the latter three all making their individual Tour debuts.

Youngster Mike Cuming, Australian Peter Smith and criterium specialist James Stewart are all named in reserve.

To see how they, and their squad fair on their Tour of Britain debut don’t forget to tune in to ITV4 at 7pm every night during The Tour for an hour’s highlights of the day’s action.

Provisional Team Saxo Bank line-up for The Tour of Britain:

Jonathan Bellis; Lucas Sebastien Haedo; Frank Høj; Jonas Aaen Jorgensen; Jaroslav Marycz; Alex Rasmussen

Provisional Sigma Sport – Specialized line-up for The Tour of Britain:

Stephen Gallagher; Kit Gilham; Tom Murray; Simon Richardson; Matt Stephens; Wouter Sybrandy

Reserves: Stephen Adams; Tom Last; James Williamson

Provisional Team Raleigh line-up for The Tour of Britain:

Dale Appleby; Tom Barras; Dan Fleeman; Richard Handley; Liam Holohan; Daniel Shand

Reserves: Mike Cuming; Peter Smith; James Stewart

Eight teams have now announced their provisional rider line-ups for The Tour of Britain. These are AN Post Sean Kelly Cycling Team, Endura Racing, Motorpoint – Marshalls Pasta, Rapha – Condor – Sharp, Sigma Sport – Specialized, Sky Professional Cycling Team, Team Raleigh and Team Saxo Bank.

The Tour of Britain is proud to be partnered with The Prostate Cancer Charity. Don’t forget this September your chance to follow in the wheel tracks of the professionals and ride three stages from The Tour of Britain. Go to www.tourride.co.uk to find out more!