25 August 2010
Stage One of The Tour of Britain launched - Steven Burke &
Richard Handley help launch The Tour of Britain in England’s
Northwest
Organisers of The Tour of Britain, as well as representatives
from Blackpool Council, Rochdale Metropolitan Borough Council and
the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), have officially
launched Stage One of this year’s Tour of Britain, with help from
Olympic Bronze medallist Steven Burke and fellow Northwest rider
Richard Handley.
“It’s brilliant to have The Tour of Britain in the
Northwest. For the actual start to be in Rochdale it’s not
too far from my home in Colne, so it’s a big thing for cycling in
the Northwest and in this area,” said Steven Burke of the
Motorpoint – Marshalls Pasta team.
“It’s going to be a tough first stage to Blackpool, right from
the off,” continued 22-year-old Burke. “I think there’ll be a
few splits but it all should come back together for a sprint finish
on the promenade. For sure it’s going to be tough stage for
all the riders.”
Wigan based Richard Handley will be a member of the Team Raleigh
squad that makes its Tour of Britain debut.
“It should be a good race. It’s a longer race than
I’ve been doing before this season, so it should make a good
change,” said Richard, who turns 20 next week.
Speaking about his debut in The Tour, Richard said;
“I’m a bit nervous. It’s just going to be a baptism of
fire really, but I’m looking forward to it. It’s good to
start pretty close to home, as the first stage is local for me, so
I can expect my Mum and Dad to come out and cheer me on.”
Stage One of the 2010 Tour will take the 100 professional riders,
including famous names like Olympians Bradley Wiggins and Ed
Clancy, the 133 kilometres from Rochdale to Blackpool, passing
through the stunning scenery of the Forest of Bowland along the
way.
England’s Northwest has been a fixture on the route of The Tour
of Britain, the UK’s biggest professional cycle race every year
since The Tour’s rebirth in 2004, when the race began in
Manchester.
While Rochdale will be celebrating the first visit by The Tour
of Britain on Saturday 11th September, for Blackpool it will be the
fifth time that The Tour has come to town, with the popular beach
resort having twice before held stage finishes – in 2005 when Roger
Hammond won, and in 2009 when eventual Tour winner Edvald Boasson
Hagen took the honours on the promenade.
Sheldon Phillips, Head of Regional Major Events, at the
Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA) said:
“We are once again delighted to welcome ‘The Tour’ to England’s
Northwest. Since 2004, the region has seen some of the world’s most
competitive cyclist’s power through our cities, towns and rural
spaces, providing a wonderful spectacle for visitors to the
area.
“The Northwest has earned an excellent reputation for
successfully hosting major sporting and cultural events, which
bring huge economic benefits to the region. As home to British
Cycling and in the build up to 2012, the region has grown in
stature as a cyclist’s paradise, with millions of pounds invested
into all manner of cycling initiatives, including the National
Cycling Centre and the National Indoor BMX Centre. With hundreds of
miles of off-road trails, moorland tracks and coastal plains, the
region is certainly best discovered on two wheels.”
Councillor Maxine Callow, Cabinet Member for Tourism and
Regeneration at Blackpool Council, commented: “It is great to see
The Tour of Britain once again return to Blackpool. It really drew
the crowds in to see them last year and this year we expect even
more. It will be an exciting final sprint along the promenade and a
real spectacle for visitors and residents to see.
“It takes place on the weekend of the Firework Championships
which I know will really make the event go off with a bang. We are
also proud to be hosting the Grand Depart on the Friday prior to
the race and I hope the riders will enjoy their time in
Blackpool.”
Rochdale will be celebrating the first visit by The Tour of
Britain on Saturday 11 September.
Council Leader, Councillor Irene Davidson said:
“I am very pleased that Rochdale is hosting such a prestigious
race. The Tour of Britain provides an ideal opportunity for our
residents to watch one of the biggest cycling events in the British
calendar. It’s going to be a great spectator event and there
will be lots going on … a real party atmosphere.
“Residents will get a chance to witness first-hand the spectacle
of a professional cycle race. It may even inspire some of our
residents to take up cycling themselves!"
“We’re delighted to be returning to England’s Northwest for the
Grand Depart of this year’s Tour of Britain”, said Race Director
Mick Bennett.
“The Northwest has provided a fantastic venue for The Tour over
the past six editions of the race, so I’m sure it will do so once
again in 2010. We have an excellent, world-class field of
riders from 17 top teams taking part in The Tour of Britain this
year, so whether spectators are coming to Rochdale, Blackpool or
one of the King of the Mountains climbs in the Forest of Bowland,
they are in for an unforgettable experience.”
The Tour of Britain is proud to be partnered with The Prostate
Cancer Charity. Don’t forget this September your chance to
follow in the wheel tracks of the professionals and ride three
stages from The Tour of Britain. Go to www.tourride.co.uk to find out
more!
– Ends –
Notes to Editor
To apply for Media Accreditation for The Tour of Britain, please
visit www.tourofbritain.co.uk/_ns_press
For details of this September’s Tour of Britain, go to www.tourofbritain.co.uk
You can also follow The Tour of Britain via Twitter, go to www.twitter.com/tourofbritain
ITV4 will be broadcasting daily highlights from The Tour of
Britain, each night between 19:00 and 20:00
The Tour of Britain 2010
Stage One Saturday 11th September Rochdale to
Blackpool
Stage Two Sunday 12th September The
Stoke-on-Trent Stage
Stage Three Monday 13th
September Newtown to Swansea
Stage Four Tuesday 14th September Minehead to
Teignmouth
Stage Five Wednesday 15th September Tavistock
to Glastonbury
Stage Six Thursday 16th September King’s Lynn
to Great Yarmouth
Stage Seven Friday 17th September Bury
St Edmunds to Colchester
Stage Eight Saturday 18th September The TfL
London Stage
The Tour of Britain
Re-launched in 2004 after a five year absence from the calendar,
The Tour of Britain is now the UK’s biggest professional cycle race
and the country’s largest free-to-watch sporting event.
Ranked at the 2.1 level by the UCI, the sport’s governing body,
The Tour of Britain attracts some of the world’s top cyclists,
including Olympic and World Champions and Tour de France stage
winners, to compete on British roads each September.
For further press information, please contact:
Peter Hodges
peterh@thetour.co.uk
0870 112 8650
Liz Fisher
liz@thetour.co.uk
0870 112 8650
The Northwest Regional Development Agency
The Northwest Regional Development Agency works to deliver
economic success in England’s Northwest by building the
competitiveness of businesses, people and places. As part of
its work to support these objectives, the NWDA works with partners
to secure world-class events, which are distinctive and capable of
attracting large numbers of visitors from outside the region and
which significantly enhance the profile of the region. For further
information and to view previous press releases visit us at
www.nwda.co.uk/press