One month until the Chorley Grand Prix returns

It’s just one month to go until Chorley welcomes the country’s top cyclists and the whole of the Chorley borough is being urged to get involved and cheer them on.

On Saturday 15 April, the Chorley borough hosts the HSBC UK Spring Cup Series for 2017 with the Chorley Grand Prix, which is being organised by Chorley Council and British Cycling.

The prestigious race will start and finish on Park Road in Chorley town centre before the cyclists take on a five lap, 115 mile route through Chorley, Limbrick, Rivington, Belmont, Abbey Village, Withnell, Brinscall, Wheelton, Buckshaw Village and back to Chorley.

Like last year, local people are being urged to again get creative and show their support for the cyclists in a number of ways including:

• knitting features along the route,
• baking bicycle-themed cakes for fellow spectators,
• decorating and displaying old bicycles on their own property,
• taking part in the numerous bicycle activities in the Chorley Council cycle village on Park Road,
• If you’re a business, decorating your shop window or creating a special Chorley Grand Prix offer or menu, and finally,
• lining the route to cheer the cyclists on. 

Councillor Peter Wilson, Deputy Leader of Chorley Council, said: “The Chorley Grand Prix is an amazing spectacle that puts Chorley well and truly on the map as a destination for cycling.  We want to build on the success of previous years by making this year’s event even bigger and attracting even more spectators to cheer on the cyclists as they make their way around our challenging course.

“Last year, it was great to see the decorated bicycles and bunting across the borough and the cycle village on Park Road had a brilliant family atmosphere.  We would like to recreate that again this year but hopefully get even more people decorating their homes, get more businesses offering special promotions and see even more displays like the giant cyclist made of hay bales in the fields.

“Whether you attended the last two years or not, I would definitely recommend you join us along the route to watch this brilliant race and the country’s top cyclists.  So far we’ve received entries from some of the best teams in the country including Madison Genesis, Team Wiggins who have double Olympic Gold medal winner Steve Burke riding, and JLT Condor who include last year’s winner Edmund Bradbury who will be back to defend his title.

“It should be a brilliant day and we’re looking forward to working with lots of cycling clubs, groups and businesses across the borough to make the event a success.”

As part of the 2017 Chorley Grand Prix, riders will also have the opportunity to win prizes in the Active Nation point’s competition and the Check out Chorley King of the Mountains competition, plus the official race support vehicles will be provided by the Chorley Group.

Anyone attending the Chorley Grand Prix or travelling in the area on Saturday 15 April is being reminded that there will generally be rolling road closures in place as the cyclists go past. 

However, Park Road and Queens Road in Chorley town centre will be closed for the full day, Southport Road will be closed for the last lap only and one side of Sheep House Lane and Rivington Road will be closed to west-bound traffic for the day, meaning there will be parking restrictions and diversion routes in place around these areas. 

For more information on the Chorley Grand Prix and ways you can get involved, visit chorley.gov.uk, like Chorley Council on Facebook or follow @ChorleyCouncil