Wiggins goes West: Britain's Energy Coast funding helps welcome cycling elite
West Cumbria will be ready to welcome some of the best cyclists in the world this autumn thanks to funding from economic development organisation Britain’s Energy Coast (BEC).
BEC has agreed to join forces with Cumbria County Council, Lake District National Park Authority, Carlisle City Council, South Lakeland District Council and Cumbria Tourism to help meet the cost of Cumbria hosting Stage Two of The Tour of Britain on September 16, 2013. The BEC funding is being provided by Sellafield Ltd.
The majority of the 116 mile route falls within West Cumbria. After a morning start in Carlisle the increasingly popular race will pass through the town centres of Cockermouth, Maryport, Workington, Whitehaven and Keswick before heading to the finish in Kendal. Intermediate Yodel Sprints will take place at Aspatria, Dearham and Whitehaven in addition to gruelling SKODA King of the Mountain climbs at Mockerkin, Honister Pass and Chestnut Hill, Keswick. Details of the route were given at an event in Carlisle today (Wednesday, July 24) to promote the city hosting the start of the Cumbria, The Lake District stage. The event has recently been boosted by former Tour de France champion and London 2012 gold winner Sir Bradley Wiggins indicating that he intends to once again ride his home Tour, with the aim of taking victory and the IG Gold Jersey.
Luke Dicicco, Head of Communications Inward Investment, said: “We’re delighted to be supporting The Tour of Britain in 2013. With much of the nitty gritty action taking place against the backdrop of our towns, villages, mountains and lakes, this major event will help raise the profile of West Cumbria and the wider County to audiences across the world. Along with the Rugby League World Cup, we’re starting to get a reputation for staging high profile sporting events with international appeal – which is not only great for the local community but will help further strengthen our image and economy.”
Rory O’Neill, Stakeholder Relations Director for Sellafield Ltd, said: “Sellafield Ltd is the backbone of the community in West Cumbria and so it should not surprise anyone that we are supporting something that will be a huge fillip for the region. Cycling is more popular than it’s ever been, on the back of the success of people like Sir Bradley Wiggins, Sir Chris Hoy, Chris Froome and Mark Cavendish, we see the number of our employees who cycle to and from Sellafield increasing year after year and the success of events like the Jennings Rivers Ride prove that. I think the Tour of Britain will really capture the imagination of local residents and visitors to the area alike.”
Around 100 of the world’s top cyclists will take part in The Tour, with live daily coverage and highlights broadcast throughout the world. Cumbria is the second of eight stages which take place between Peebles on September 15 and London on September 22. Teams for the tenth anniversary edition of The Tour of Britain will be announced at the beginning of August, alongside further details on the provisional rider line-up later that month with Mark Cavendish among the other top UK riders it is hoped will ride.
Alastair Grant, Commercial Director for SweetSpot Group, the organisers and promoters of The Tour of Britain, said, “We welcome Britain’s Energy Coast to this year’s Tour of Britain and thank them for their support for what will be a very exciting stage of the race. Our first ever stage through the heart of Cumbria and the Lake District is sure to be one to remember, for its challenge as well as the beautiful scenery.”
