Johnson Health Tech, the owners of Horizon Fitness, which sponsors Britain’s biggest women’s team, has announced that it will support a series of women’s city centre criteriums in 2011. The Johnson Health Tech Women’s Grand Prix Series will consist of four events in May and June, which will be run alongside the well-established men’s Halfords Tour Series.
The series has been developed after last year’s Horizon Fitness Women’s Grand Prix in Stoke-on-Trent, which was won by British criterium champion, Horizon Fitness rider Dani King.
The venues for the series will be announced at the official launch of the Halfords Tour Series in April.
“As a company that actively encourages participation in exercise, physical activity, and competitive sport, we are delighted to have the opportunity to support this initiative,” said Jon Johnston, MD of Johnson Health Tech UK.
“It’s a great time for women’s cycling, and with the Olympics just around the corner, and the ongoing focus on sport, health, and wellbeing, we hope that the Grand Prix Series will inspire more people to literally get on their bikes and become more active.”
Where the men’s series is a competition between teams, the winner of the women’s series will be the best individual rider over the four rounds, although there will be a team prize awarded after the final race.
“As the largest bicycle retailer in Britain we want to help drive the sport of cycling wherever we can,” said Lynn Hayzelden of Halfords. “The Halfords Tour Series is more than an elite series. The event showcases some of our finest homegrown athletes and brings the sport to the attention of the wider public. We hope this exposure will inspire more people to get cycling.
“Britain has great cycling heritage and the world’s eyes will be on our athletes in the run up to next year’s Olympics. Who knows, the next generations of Bradley Wiggins Sir Chris Hoy or Victoria Pendleton may be inspired by witnessing first-hand the excitement of the Series.”