HUNDREDS of cyclists are set to descend on Worcester after the city was chosen to host a major event for amateur riders.
The 2015 Friends Life Tour Ride will take place on Sunday, October 4, with cyclists given the choice of three routes over distances of 100, 75 and 30 miles.
It follows the success of the city hosting a stage of last September’s Tour of Britain, the UK’s biggest professional cycle race.
Starting from outside the University of Worcester Arena, all three routes will finish on Worcester Racecourse allowing for a closed-road finale.
Organisers say the Tour Ride, which was launched in 2009, gives cyclists the chance to have the professional experience and enjoy a fully supported ride with all route options incorporating elements of the 2014 Friends Life Tour of Britain.
Peter Pawsey, executive chair of the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership which is hosting the event, said: “I am pleased to announce that this prestigious cycle ride will take place in the county in October this year and would encourage people to start training.
“Businesses may wish to enter teams and this is a great opportunity for both individuals and teams to raise funds for their chosen charities.
“We recognise the huge importance that high profile sporting events provide to local companies. For example, the Tour of Britain boosted the local economy by almost £1million last year and I would urge businesses to consider the many commercial opportunities that this event will provide.”
“This is an exciting addition to Worcestershire’s high profile sporting programme of events taking place this year, which will help to put Worcestershire firmly on the sporting map of Britain. Another highlight will be the prestigious European Wheelchair Basketball Championships which the Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership is supporting alongside Worcester City Council and Worcestershire County Council.”
Taking place annually since 2009, last year saw the Friends Life Tour Ride take place in Stoke-on-Trent and the Peak District, with approaching 1,000 riders entering and riding alongside Mark Cavendish.
In addition to having hosted the Friends Life Tour of Britain on three occasions since 2007, most notably in 2014 when World Champion elect Michal Kwiatkowski won Stage Four from Worcester to Bristol, Worcestershire is also a regular host of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series in Redditch, which has taken place annually since 2012 with both elite men and women’s races.
Entries for the 2015 Friends Life Tour Ride open this week alongside a revamped event website, together with details of all three routes.
