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 26 March, the Chorley borough will kick start the British Cycling Elite Road Race Series for 2016 with the Chorley Grand Prix, which is being organised by Chorley Council and British Cycling with sponsorship from Chorley Building Society.

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,
• taking part in the Sky Ride Locals which will be listed at goskyride.com/chorley from the beginning of March,
• 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: “Last year’s Chorley Grand Prix was an amazing spectacle that put Chorley well and truly on the map as a destination for cycling.  We want to build on that 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 last year 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 JLT Condor, NFTO and Team Wiggins, plus Preston’s Ian Bibby 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.”

Chief Executive of Chorley & District Building Society, Stephen Penlington, added: “We are really proud to be playing a major role in the Chorley Grand Prix again and we hope the rest of the borough’s communities will get involved and show their support for this fantastic event.

“Over the next few weeks we’ll be going into schools with the council and encouraging pupils to create their own artwork in honour of the race plus we’ll be in the cycle village on the day with plenty of giveaways to create a noisy reception as the cyclists race up Park Road to the finish line.

“It will be another fantastic occasion for Chorley, showcasing our borough as a brilliant cycling destination and hopefully encouraging even more people to visit.”

As part of the 2016 Chorley Grand Prix, riders will also have the opportunity to win prizes in the Active Nation points competition and the Choose Chorley for Business 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 26 March 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