Over a hundred of the world’s top riders will be passing through Ruddington during the penultimate stage of this year’s OVO Energy “Tour of Britain” cycle race!
The announcement comes on the back of last year’s successful event which attracted 210,000 supporters in Nottinghamshire on the day – one of the biggest turnouts across the eight stage race across the UK.
The date for your diary is Saturday 8th September, when we’ll be able to cheer on 120 elite cyclists as they speed between West Bridgford and Mansfield in Stage Seven. This part of the route is 139 miles (223 km) long – including our village – and is expected to be watched by a global TV audience of millions!
After passing through Compton Acres, competitors will enter Ruddington along Wilford Road before racing through High Street, turning left in to Kirk Lane and then right on to Loughborough Road to exit the village towards Bradmore (see map). It’s hoped residents and traders will line the streets to spot some guaranteed, cycling celebrities and help cheer them on. Those along the route are also encouraged to get involved in the celebration by decorating their houses, businesses or neighbourhood in a cycle theme to welcome the riders.
The Leader of Rushcliffe Borough Council, Cllr Simon Robinson, said: “We are absolutely delighted to welcome such a unique, prestigious event to the borough for the first time. We are proud of our heritage in sport and it’s fantastic we have been chosen as a host county and that so much of the stage will ride through Rushcliffe. It will go right across the borough in many villages and towns so I hope all parish and town councils, schools and communities will join in. We would like people to get out there to make this a fantastic event and we will be in touch with communities with further information very soon.”
Tour of Britain Race Director Mick Bennett added: “The turn-out for the Nottinghamshire stage last year really was incredible. The viewing figures for ITV4 show that Stage Four was popular with the audience at home too, with half a million people tuning in to watch the highlights– attracting the highest ratings of any of the other seven highlight shows. So we are delighted to be returning to Nottinghamshire as this year’s route makes it seem like a completely different county! We are taking in a lot of new areas, approaching a significant part of 2017’s route from the opposite direction as well as having hillier sections this time.”
For details of the complete route – and how to get involved – you can go to www.rushcliffe.gov.uk/tob. Of course, we’ll also bring you further news and updates as and when we receive them here at RUDDINGTON.info!
