Local schools get a taste of the Tour of Britain

Remember those heady days in September when our countryside welcomed the blur of lycra and advertising that was the Tour of Britain?

Well chances are some local youngsters remember it a lot better than you do!

Cycling teams from Cheddar Grove New Oak Primary schools were lucky enough to be chosen to represent the area, along with Primary Schools from Somerset, to compete in a pursuit challenge in Wells before the Tour of Britain 6th Stage passed through.

Over 30 children took part in team pursuits in the finish straight of where the Tour stage eventually finished.

Cherry Kraus, South Bristol schools worker said: "It was a fantastic competition in which teams raced two at a time in teams of four, dropping a team member at certain distances until there was one rider left for a head to head finish. There were some extremely close races.

"New Oak finished in third place overall with Cheddar Grove fifth, and some lucky pupils even got to stand on the podium."

"The children then watched the Tour of Britain come through the city once before it looped out and returned to finish in front of a huge crowd, all hoping that Mark Cavendish was somewhere amongst the leaders.

"However, Lars Boom had other thoughts and the eventual Tour winner took an emphatic victory in Wells, deposing every other contender in one huge sprint at the end!"

The event was organised by Dan Coast of Bristol Cycling Development Squad.

Find out more about this event and see pictures at: http://ssp.ashtonpark.net/articles/2011/09/17/tour-de-cheddar-grove-and-new-oak