Pearl Izumi Tour Series 2013: Coverage index

Welcome to Cycling Weekly's coverage of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series 2013, which gets underway in Kirkcaldy on May 14.

This page serves as a hub for all of our coverage of this year's event - as well as the Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series - from reports and exclusive rider blogs to the latest news to photo galleries.

That the Tour Series is primarily a team-based event is arguably its unique selling point. The squad who has the lowest culmulative score for their first three riders across the line wins each round, although individual glory is still on offer.

Consistency and teamwork is needed to take the overall victory, as Endura Racing proved last year. They won seven of the 12 rounds (including the first four), and averaged 9.1 points per round. They comfortably won the overall title, but just five points separating Rapha-Condor-JLT, UK Youth, Raleigh and Node4-Giordana.

Pearl Izumi have replaced Halfords as the series sponsor, IG will now back the Sprints Competition and Costa Express have put their name to the new Fastest Lap competition.

Pearl Izumi Tour Series 2013: Schedule

For the second year running, the Tour Series will comprise of 12 races across 11 venues. Also per 2012, Kirkcaldy and Durham will open the series, Aberystwyth will host a Friday night round, and Stoke-on-Trent, Torquay, Colchester, Redditch, Canary Wharf and Woking will all welcome the series once again.

The two new venues on the 2013 schedule are Aylsham and Grand Final host Ipswich. The latter will stage two races; a team time trial and a criterium.

Pearl Izumi Tour Series 2013: Rider blogs

Cycling Weekly will have rider blogging throughout  this year's Tour Series, offering insight, comment and humour from the fast-paced proceedings.

Round One: Tom Murray (Metaltek-Knights of Old) in Kirkcaldy

Round Two: Rob Adlard (Velo29-Blackhawk) in Durham

Round Four: Ian Bibby (Madison Genesis) in Aberystwyth

Round Five: George Pym (Spin Rotor-Primal C-Originals) in Torquay

Round Six: Liam Stones (MG-Maxifuel) in ColchesterRound Seven: Dan Barry (Node4-Giordana) in Redditch 

Round Eight: Roger Hammond (Madison Genesis) in Canary Wharf

Round Nine: Felix English (Rapha-Condor-JLT) in Woking

Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series 2013: Introduction

The five-round women's series looks set to be the best yet, as the quality of Britain's teams should make the racing unpredictable and entertaining throughout.

2012 champion Annie Simpson will be racing for Team Hope, and her predecessor Helen Wyman will line up for Matrix Fitness.

Johnson Health Tech Grand Prix Series 2013: Rider blogs

Round One: Louise Mahé (Mule Bar Girl) in Stoke-on-Trent

Round Two: Hannah Barnes (MG-Maxifuel) in Colchester

Round Three: Annie Simpson (Hope Factory Racing) in Redditch

Round Five: Jessie Walker (Matrix Fitness) in Aylsham

Pearl Izumi Tour Series 2013: TV Schedule

ITV4 will once again bring the Tour Series into your home with their hour-long highlights programmes.

ITV4 can be found on Freeview (channel 24), Freesat (channel 117), Sky (channels 120 [standard definition] and 228 [high definition]), Virgin Media (channel 118) and online via www.itv.com/itv4.

The broadcaster's on-demand service ITV Player service will also have the coverage available to watch online at a later date.

Related links

2013 Tour Series schedule confirmed

East Anglian finish to 2013 Tour Series

Halfords Tour Series: 2012 coverage index

Halfords Tour Series: 2011 coverage index