Isle of Man Cyclefest presented by Isle of Man Bank is being extended and expanded into a four-day cycling festival with an additional day’s activity in Ramsey now added to the schedule as well as a second professional race featuring the Pearl Izumi Tour teams.

The event, which features both elite professional racing and mass participation races as well as a programme of community and entertainment events, will now begin on Thursday 12th May and runs through to Sunday 15th May 2016.

The Isle of Man leg of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series, which is the opening round of the televised ten-event UK professional team Championship, will now take place at Ramsey’s Mooragh Park on Thursday 12th May 2016. As well as the main Tour Series Race, the professional teams will also take part in a high speed Team Time Trial event earlier in the day.

Fans will get the chance to meet the competitors, and watch their pre-race preparations in a series of activities throughout the day with an open race paddock in operation throughout. Thursday’s schedule will also feature a Team Pursuit style event for local schoolchildren and the Isle of Man Cyclefest Stars of Tomorrow Youth Race for male and female riders aged under16.

Friday’s newly added Isle of Man Cyclefest Community Day will see the disability cycling group, Bike for Life, hosting an open session for all ages and abilities which will take place using the start and finish area of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series course.

Local BMX riders will compete in the Isle of Man Cyclefest BMX GP held on the permanent Mooragh Park BMX track before the evening’s final events, the Big Ride with Rebecca House and the Isle of Man Cyclefest Charity Open Team Time Trial, which is open to teams of three competitors from sports clubs, social groups and companies. Both events will raise money for the local Children’s Hospice.

Saturday and Sunday’s mass participation calendar – the Storm the Tower Hill Climb, the Battle of Sky Hill XC Mountain Bike Race and the island wide Gran Fondo – remain as scheduled as well as a full schedule of entertainment events at the picturesque Milntown Estate.

Paul Phillips, Director, Isle of Man Cyclefest presented by Isle of Man Bank commented:

“We have been given the opportunity by our partners at the Sweetspot Group to expand the festival schedule and add a series of corporate and community events utilising the same course that the professionals will race on as well as adding to the spectator experience by creating a second professional event with the Team Time Trial.”

He continued:

“We have already had a great reaction to the cycling festival and believe that by extending it we can give more amateur cyclists, local companies and community groups the chance to experience the thrill of competing on a circuit set up for professional racing whilst further fulfilling our aims of engaging with a wide spectrum of the community with events for all ages, backgrounds and experience.”

Bill Shimmins, Managing Director of Isle of Man Bank, title sponsors of Isle of Man Cyclefest added:

"Isle of Man Bank is excited about this event and the addition of a community day will enable even more people and groups within the Manx community to participate in the festival."