A dozen WorldTour teams have signed on for the first race of the Hammer Tour, the Hammer Sportzone Limburg, scheduled for June 2-4 in Limburg, Netherlands. The race, promoted by the Velon group, is set to unveil a new format for a future series of the team-centred race, with one race for the climbers, one stage for the sprinters and a head-to-head team time trial on the final day to decide the top team.
Bahrain-Merida and Movistar have joined the 10 Velon teams (BMC, Cannondale-Drapac, Orica-Scott, Lotto Soudal, Quick-Step Floors, LottoNL-Jumbo, Sky, Sunweb, Trek-Segafredo and UAE Team Emirates) in starting the event, together with four Pro Continental squad, Roompot, Caja Rural-Seguros RGA, Israel Cycling Academy and Nippo-Vini Fantini.
The race is the first in an eventual series that Velon CEO Graham Bartlett said he hopes to grow to eight to ten events per season.
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The organisers are also holding a sportif ride on June 3, with distance options of 50, 75, 100 or 150km, and youth races for ages 8-14.
The pro racing format is designed to be spectator-friendly, with each race taking place on short loops of 7-15km, and three viewing 'zones' – the free public areas outside the finish, premium viewing near the finish and VIP tickets for hospitality tents with food and drink that cost €150 per day.
"It's going to be huge for the fans," Sam Bewley (Orica-Scott) said in the race press release. "It's a new opportunity for cycling. Everything's centralised, it's on the same circuit so you'll get to see a lot of the race. Hopefully there will be a party atmosphere out there as well. I think it's an event that can grow and promote our sport a lot."
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