Tour of Britain thank-you from Torbay cyclist Harrison Wood

Torbay pro cyclist Harrison Wood has delivered a big ‘Thanks - we couldn’t do it without you’ message to the South West companies and friends who have made sure that his Anicolor-Tien21 team can race next week’s Lloyds Tour of Britain.

Wood, 25, will tackle his home Tour (Sept 2-7) for the first time as part of a five-man Anicolor squad, which has just dominated the prestigious Volta a Portugal (writes Dave Thomas).

But Anicolor’s ability to ride the ToB was in doubt when they received a late invitation to the race, whose finances have tightened over the last couple of years.

It was only with the help of contacts and sponsors, most of them gathered by Wood and his family, that a workable budget has been put together.

The first ‘friends’ to sign up were Wood’s own Mid-Devon CC, who are giving their club minibus and three volunteers as a rider support vehicle.

Now four Devon companies have rallied round to help pay for motorhome hire, medical/mechanical support and travel costs for riders and staff coming from Portugal.

They are Torbay’s Orestone Wealth Management, Paignton-based firms RevComps and Chief Vehicle Rentals and SW finance and project management specialists F&G Partners.

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“Without the help and support of those people, we almost certainly wouldn’t be able to ride the Tour of Britain,” said Wood, who became the first MDCC to ride a Grand Tour when he finished 66th in last year’s Giro d’Italia with French team Cofidis.

“It’s obviously a big undertaking to get a team, staff and bikes from Portugal and back, as well as keep everyone on the road during the race.

“I’ve always wanted to ride my ‘home’ Tour, obviously, so it’s going to be a big thrill for me.

“But we’re also bringing a good team, which has had a successful season so far, and we’re hoping to do well.”

The 19-team field is due to include nine WorldTour squads, boasting some of the biggest names in the sport.

The race marks the farewell of GB’s former Tour de France champion Geraint Thomas (Ineos Grenadiers), in whose honour the final two hilly stages will be in South Wales.

East Anglia and the Midlands host the first four stages, and MDCC members and supporters are preparing to cheer Wood & Co on during the decisive last three tests.

They finish at Burton Dassett Hills Country Park near Stratford-upon-Avon (Sept 5), The Tumble mountain near Abergavenny (Sept 6) and Cardiff, after climbing Caerphilly Mountain (Sept 7).

The whole race is being broadcast live on ITV4.