By Anna Whittaker, Local Democracy Reporter
Excitement is building ahead of the world-famous Tour of Britain race which will pass through Nottinghamshire in less than two weeks’ time.
Some of the world’s top cyclists will race through the county on Thursday, September 8. The fifth stage of the event begins in West Bridgford and ends outside Mansfield’s Civic Centre on Chesterfield Road South.
The 190-kilometre (around 118 miles) race starts on Central Avenue at 10.45am and will pass through East Leake, Radcliffe-on-Trent, Calverton, Southwell, Retford and Worksop.
Cabinet Portfolio Holder for Communities and Climate Change at Rushcliffe Borough Council, Cllr Abby Brennan (Con) encouraged residents to get involved.
It is the third time the Tour has come to Nottinghamshire and the stage will pass by some of the county’s most iconic landmarks and tourist attractions, including Southwell Minster, Clumber Park and Sherwood Forest.
Cllr Brennan told the Local Democracy Reporting Service: “It’s really exciting – even if you’re not a cyclist yourself, when you have a major sporting event it lifts everybody’s mood and you get caught in the atmosphere.
“It’s a great boost to our local economy as well.
“It’s a really inclusive event, from children to grandmas and grandad’s, everyone can cheer the cyclists on and get involved in the thrill and excitement.
“In 2018, 250,000 spectators turned out to make it the largest sporting event in the county’s history.
“We would hope as much money as possible is spent in the local area too.”
Rushcliffe Borough Council said the 2018 event boosted the local economy by £3.9m spent by participants and spectators on accommodation, food and drink and shopping.
Cllr Brennan added that many villages are putting on celebratory events including tea and coffee morning and events involving new Ukrainian residents in the borough.
She added: “Rushcliffe Borough Council has been encouraging people to get back on their bikes and to learn road sense too.
“You always get a spike of interest whenever there’s a sporting event and since Covid, people are more aware of the importance of getting outside.
“We’re hopeful seeing something as amazing as this will encourage people to get on their bikes.”
The eight-stage 2022 tour starts in Aberdeen on Sunday September 4 before heading through Scotland, the north east, north Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Gloucestershire and Dorset, finishing on the Isle of Wight on Sunday, September 11.
Live TV coverage of the event, which could include Olympians and world champions, will be shown on ITV4.
