Highly popular national cycle race returns to Chorley
A PRESTIGIOUS cycle race that has attracted thousands of people into Chorley will return to the borough for a third time at Easter.
Chorley Council has once again teamed up with British Cycling to host the event that will see more than 100 professional riders take on a challenging course around the borough as part of the 2017 HSBC UK Spring Cup Series.
The popular event is returning to the borough after proving highly popular for the previous two years with the race being described as ‘one of the best ever supported national road series races in the country’. It will also showcase the beautiful borough to a European audience when the event is broadcast on Eurosport.
There will also be a return of the decorated bikes along the route, with residents, community groups and schools being encouraged to again decorate, donate and recycle unwanted bikes, to give the cyclists a warm and colorful welcome to the Borough. Bikes can be decorated with any suitable waterproof materials and then donated by contacting Chorley Council’s community team by Friday 31 March.
Councillor Peter Wilson, Deputy Leader of Chorley Council, said: “Chorley has some of the best cycling routes in the whole of the country with a mixture of flat open roads and challenging climbs and we are seeing more and more people visit each year.
“We have been overwhelmed with the success of the race since its inception two years ago and due to the fantastic feedback we wanted to bring it back again in 2017 and continue to put Chorley on the map as a destination which has a real enthusiasm for cycling.”
“Not only does it put on a spectacle for local people it will attract many more people into the borough and boost the local economy.”
The race will be held on Easter Saturday, which is 15 April, with British Cycling confirming the dates of all the 2017 national road series races.
British Cycling’s director of cycle sport and membership, Jonny Clay, said: “We’re excited to confirm an extended calendar of men’s domestic road series event for 2017.
“With a calendar comprising popular established races and some fantastic new events, we can expect to see an entertaining year of racing for new and existing fans of the sport.”
The race, called the Chorley Grand Prix, is being organised by Chorley Council. It will take in a 100-mile route with the start and finish line on Park Road, in Chorley town centre. It then takes the cyclists out to Rivington, Belmont, Abbey Village, Withnell, Brinscall, Wheelton, Buckshaw Village and back to Chorley.
The riders will complete five laps of the circuit but there will generally be rolling road closures in place, which will mean very minimal disruption to traffic. The exact route will be confirmed in the coming weeks.
For further information on the Chorley Grand Prix, people are encouraged to visit chorley.gov.uk like Chorley Council on Facebook or follow @ChorleyCouncil on Twitter.