Team UK Youth ready for Tour of Britain, with support from TheTriTouch
TheTriTouch will provide sports massage support to Team UK Youth during The Tour of Britain 2012.
Team UK Youth is owned by ex-F1 World Champion Nigel Mansell and gets its name from charity of which Nigel is President. UK Youth supports young people to raise their aspirations and realize their potential. It reaches 750,000 young people each year and is TheTriTouch’s charity partner.
The sole British debutants in this year’s Tour, Team UK Youth are racing at the UCI Continental level in only their second year in the sport.
Since 2004 The Tour of Britain has been attracting some of the world’s top teams and cyclists, coming to the UK to compete on British roads each September. The 2012 edition will include 8 stages over 1,349.9 kms from 9th until 16th September. You can view the introduction video online.
Phil Borrett, Sports Massage Therapist at TheTriTouch, will be looking after the riders alongside the team physiotherapist Dave Casey, to prepare them for racing and ensure optimum post race recovery. Phil is an Elite level road racing cyclist with 6 years experience racing nationally and internationally. He has worked extensively with cyclists at all levels and understands the needs and demands that competitive sports has on the body:
“ Being asked to be a soigneur for Team UK Youth is going to be a great experience. Looking after a team of top class cyclists in peak form is going to be a challenge and hard work. I can’t wait to see them perform in the Tour of Britain, which is gaining more and more exposure and credentials each year. This is Britain’s Golden age of cycling so the race should be even more exciting to watch. With the results UK Youth have had this year it should be intersting to see how the race unfolds and how I can play my part of what hopefully will be a succefull race for the team.”
Amongst the riders Team UK Youth could field for the Tour of Britain are: 1998 Tour de France stage winner Magnus Backstedt who last rode The Tour of Britain in 2008. On that occasion he took third in the opening stage around central London. Yanto Barker came ninth overall in 2005 which was the best ever performance by a British rider in the modern Tour. In the team are also Freddy Johansson, recently crowned National Champion Christopher Stevenson, Tour Series winner Niklas Gustavsson, Chris Opie, James Stewart, David McGowan and Greg Mansell.
Dave Povall, Directeur Sportif for Team UK Youth, says: ”During any stage race the support staff and rate of rider recovery are 2 of the most important considerations. We’re delighted that for the 2012 Tour of Britain our physio Dave Casey will be joined by Phil Borrett of TheTriTouch. Phil’s understanding of not just contemporary treatment methods, but the sport at the highest level, something that’s commonplace amongst TheTriTouch staff, gives me great confidence that Team UK Youth will have some of the best support staff on the road.”
Look out for details of Team UK Youth’ squad to take on the Tour of Britain on the team’s website and twitter @teamukyouth. You can watch the Tour of Britain on ITV4, don’t miss it! We wish the team the best of luck for the race.
TheTriTouch has clinics across London and the rest of the UK.
