The AA has two AA patrols supporting the prestigious Tour of Britain cycle race which started in London on Sunday (7 September) past.
They will travel the length and breadth of the country as part of the race crew, keeping the tour officials and teams going in the event of a breakdown.
It’s the second year that Manchester based Adam Ashmore AA patrol of the year in 2007, has supported the event. He says: “The reaction we get when people see us in the yellow AA van, beacons flashing, following the peloton is great – they sometimes do a double-take! It’s a fantastic event to be involved with and we get a real buzz keeping the teams going. Last year, we did 58 breakdowns ranging from blown bulbs to repairing smashed-up motorbikes – one time we literally had to sprint back to the van after fixing a bike and rejoined the convoy with only ten seconds to spare!”
The other patrol Egham-based Mark Joselyn, was chosen as he’s a keen cyclist and one of the AA’s bicycle-based breakdown patrols who attended Wimbledon and other events this year. He says: “It’s going to be a fantastic event to be involved with and it will be a real buzz keeping the teams going. My only concern is being able to keep pace with the peloton – those guys seriously motor along!”
Paul Rowlands from the Tour of Britain says: “We’re proud to have the ongoing support of the AA for the race as they have supplied a fantastic service to the Tour over recent years and we look forward to working with the guys again on the 2008 race.”
The Tour of Britain is a blue riband cycling event, formerly known as the Milk Race, the Kellogg’s Tour and the Pru Tour.
The 2008 Tour of Britain is composed of eight stages, visiting a total of 15 venues, beginning in London on Sunday 7 September and finishing in Liverpool eight days later.
For more information on the Tour including details of all the race stages, teams and latest news, please visit: www.tourofbritain.co.uk
Simon McBride
