Warwickshire in gear to host major cycling race
Britain’s biggest professional cycling race will be coming to Warwickshire for the first time later this year.
Racers from around the globe will descend on the county as it hosts the fourth stage of the 2018 OVO Energy Tour of Britain.
It will officially start in Nuneaton town centre, make its way around Warwickshire and end in Royal Leamington Spa, going through all five Warwickshire districts and boroughs.
The event is set to go ahead on Wednesday, September 5 and organisers are hoping for record crowds when the event comes to the region.
Leader of Warwickshire County Council, Cllr Izzi Seccombe, said: “This is a massive coup for Nuneaton and the whole of Warwickshire to be hosting a stage of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain and it is very exciting news.
“Once again an event like this shines a global spotlight on Nuneaton and the all of the county, which is extremely positive for everyone.
“The county council and our partners have great ambitions for Nuneaton and this kind of international profile is an excellent kickstart for that programme of works.”
Warwickshire County Council has built up a relationship with Sweetspot, organisers of both the OVO Energy Tour of Britain and Women’s Tour, over the past three years.
They have successfully hosted the Warwickshire stage of the Women’s Tour, which led to the Tour of Britain coming to the county for 2018.
“We are delighted to be bringing the men’s OVO Energy Tour of Britain to Warwickshire for the first time in the history of the modern race,” said race director Mick Bennett.
“The support we receive in the county for the Women’s Tour is tremendous, and we know that the world’s top male riders can expect more of the same this September.”
Relaunched in 2004 after a five-year absence from the calendar, the OVO Energy Tour of Britain attracts the world’s top cyclists, including Olympic and World Champions and Tour de France stage winner
In past events global cycling stars such as Alexander Kristoff and Michal Kwiatkowski, British heroes Mark Cavendish and Geraint Thomas or rising stars like Chris Lawless and Harry Tanfield, have competed in the OVO Energy Tour of Britain.
