Nigel is looking forward to the Tour of Britain which this year will spend a day in the Ribble Valley. On the 7th September the cycling race will depart from Clitheroe – the riders will then complete a circuit around the Ribble Valley and end the day in Colne.
The Tour of Britain, the UK’s largest free-to-watch annual sporting event, is a fantastic opportunity to watch some of the best athletes in the world. The likes of Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish (winners of the Tour de France yellow jersey and green jersey respectively) have competed in the past and thousands line the streets and roads to spectate. With Olympic success and the emergence of the dominant Sky Pro Cycling Team, British cycling is in wonderful health. The Tour of Britain is a reflection of this. What is more, Wiggins, who lives in nearby Eccleston, has recently set up his own new cycling team, WIGGINS, which will be one of the squads to watch come September.
Speaking from his office in London, Nigel said:
“The Tour of Britain is an amazing chance for people to come together to watch competitors at the pinnacle of their sport. It is an extraordinary display of endurance and power; that’s why spectators come out in their tens of thousands. What better place to come and watch than my beautiful rural constituency?
“Not only is it a great spectacle, it is also good for businesses in the Ribble Valley. Tourists who come to line the streets of towns like Clitheroe, Whalley and Longridge will inevitably boost local businesses with their custom.”
On Monday, businesses around Clitheroe met in order to organise how best to benefit from such an opportunity. The arrival of the Tour is a chance for people to see the spectacular landscape of the Ribble Valley and this can only be a good thing for rural businesses.
Overall, Nigel anticipates a grand day out for all involved and looks forward to the prospect of a day spent in the glorious Lancashire sun (fingers crossed).