Khris Fox was competing in an event aimed at youngsters – prior to the Stoke-on-Trent lap in the Pearl Izumi Tour Series – and finished ahead of pupils from four of the schools in the city.
The event saw the children compete on the same circuit used for the Pearl Izumi race, riding two laps around the track at the intu Potteries Shopping Mall. After his victory, Khris, who attends Sneyd Green’s Excel Academy, said:
“When I was chosen to take part in the ride I was really excited. I was determined to be the first one to cross the finish line and I’m really happy I was.”
The race was created to get children in the area to take more of an interest in bike riding, as part of a health initiative, as well as to encourage residents of Stoke to attend the opening leg of the Pearl Izumi Series being held in the city.
With the publicity poster and flyer printing assistance in Stoke-on-Trent, it proved a success. Dozens of children entered the race aimed at them, while thousands lined the streets for the main event. The annual Pearl Izumi Tour Series is the biggest televised cycle race in Britain.