World-class cyclists to race through South Lakeland
15 July 2011
On Monday 12 September The Tour of Britain
2011 will be heading to Kendal with Stage Two of the cycle race
starting in the town centre. South Lakeland District Council
is closely involved with the organisation of this world-class
cycling spectacular and the North West stage will start at 10.30am
from Abbot Hall Park, with team preparations and build up beginning
from 8.30am. The second leg of the race to is likely to be a
sprinters stage through the district to
Blackpool.
At 9.30am on Tuesday 19 July at Abbot Hall
Park in Kendal, local professional cyclist Ben Greenwood who rides
for the Rapha Condor Sharp team, along with the Chair of SLDC
Councillor Sylvia Emmott and a team of young cyclists from
Stramongate School will officially launch Kendal hosting the Stage
Two start of The Tour of Britain 2011.
On the day itself, Monday 12 September, riders
will be under starters orders at Abbot Hall Park in Kendal and will
ride through the town centre heading out towards Grayrigg.
The race then progresses to the outskirts of Sedbergh passing by
Devil’s Bridge at Kirkby Lonsdale as it makes it way down towards
Lancashire. The official distance of the North West stage is
137.7 kilometres and will see the cyclists tackling two Yodel
Sprints at Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale with a King of the
Mountains jersey up for grabs at Grayrigg.
Spectators will be able to line the route and
see the professional riders speeding through South Lakeland at an
impressive average speed of over 25 miles per hour and tackling the
challenging terrain on their way to a sprint finish in
Blackpool.
Chair of SLDC, Councillor Sylvia
Emmott, said: “Kendal and South Lakeland will be firmly in
the spotlight as they play host to this extremely prestigious event
for the second time. A stage start of the UK’s biggest
professional cycle race is an exciting and thrilling occasion that
will attract many visitors and spectators to the area. This
race is the largest free-to-attend sporting event in Britain and
the council feels very privileged to be hosting the Stage Two start
in Kendal.”
Mick Bennett, Technical Director of
The Tour of Britain, said, "Kendal provided one of the
most memorable stage finishes in Tour of Britain history in 2007,
so we have been overdue a return to the South Lakeland area for
some time. If the crowds and enthusiasm for The Tour of
Britain in 2007 are anything to go by, we can expect a great
atmosphere and some large crowds in Kendal, which will make it a
day not to be missed."
The Tour will confirm full details of the
route plus the competing teams and riders at the end of July.
Further information about the Tour of Britain and more details on
the Northwest stage are available on the Tour’s website www.tourofbritain.co.uk