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WINNING FEELING... Zak Dempster takes the plaudits in Durham.

Two-wheel stars set for Oldham race
THE Halfords Tour Series hits the streets of Oldham for the first time next week.

Round Six of the eight-stage competition — now in its third year — rolls into town on Thursday, June 9.

The tour pits 10 of the country’s leading professional teams against each other in one-hour races as they bid to become the nation’s top side.

The race starts and finishes in Town Square, with a circuit length of 1.1km awaiting participants.

ITV4 will be showing highlights of all the eagerly-anticipated action, including the efforts of Olympic medallist Ed Clancy, who represents Rapha Condor Sharp.

Hayfield cyclist Rob Hayles, the former World, Commonwealth and British champion who also took silver and bronze on the Olympics stage, is rated as 50-50 to ride in Oldham as he is ill.

Organiser Peter Hodges is delighted to be bringing the thrilling series to the area.

He said: “It should be most enjoyable. Hopefully we can attract not only Oldham residents, but people from throughout Greater Manchester.

“Some brilliant teams and cyclists will be taking part who have competed at the highest level.

“The venue suits the occasion and we expect it to be a great evening for all concerned.

“We are excited to be bringing the event to a new location and hopefully plenty of people will turn out for it.”

Rapha Condor Sharp won the overall title in 2009 and 2010, and Clancy will be keen to help make it a hat-trick.

He did their chances no harm whatsoever by finishing first in round two (Aberystwyth), following team-mate Zak Dempster’s round one triumph in Durham.

Supporting the series will be the Johnson Health Tech Women’s Grand Prix Series, featuring some of Britain's best female cyclists.

The women’s event gets under way at 5pm, with the men starting two hours later.

A podium presentation has been pencilled in for 8.30pm.