After a qualifying period that has spanned more than three months, Madison-Genesis, JLT-Condor and NFTO have earned the right to compete at this September’s Tour of Britain.
SweetSpot, the organisers of the national tour, decided to implement a qualifying system for Britain’s Continental teams in the wake of last year’s race, partly motivated by the sixth stage from Stoke-on-Trent to Nottingham when the gruppeto rolled in more than 45 minutes in arrears with only one domestic-based team rider in the front group.
It meant that, for the first time since the race’s 2004 revival, all of Britain’s professional teams would not get a spot in the 2.HC race.
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A selection method made up of nine events – the five UK spring/summer UCI races, National Road Race Championships, Tour Series and Motorpoint Spring Cup and GP Series – counted with points awarded for team placings.
Madison-Genesis qualified after the Nationals and at the GP of Wales last Sunday, JLT-Condor and NFTO made sure of their place with one counting race remaining – July 31’s RideLondon.
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It means that Raleigh-GAC – who have only collected one point during qualifying – will miss out, as will Continental debutants Pedal Heaven.
Team Wiggins were already guaranteed of a place by virtue of having the highest placed rider on a British Continental team in the 2015 edition, when Owain Doull (now of Sky) finished third.
Team Sky, One Pro Cycling, a composite Great Britain national team and 10 WorldTour teams will also take part in the September 4-11 race which starts in Glasgow.
Find out more on this and whether the race will seek to become a WorldTour event in the June 21 Cycling Weekly, out today.
