Tour de Britain cycle race to come through Amble
Tour of Britain 2012
The biggest cycle race in the country will pass through Amble in September, as Northumberland hosts two stages of the prestigious Friends Life Tour of Britain.
This will be the first time Britain’s national bike race has passed through the North East since 2009 and is a massive coup for the county.
The UK’s largest professional cycle race is to be broadcast in over 130 countries, including live coverage on the ITV network, and will raise the profile of the county to an international audience.
Some of the world’s top cyclists are expected to turn up to compete. Last year Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish were in the starting line-up and hopes are high that they will be competing again this year.
The eight stage race will take place from 6 to 13 September and will enter Northumberland from the Scottish borders on Wednesday 9 September during Stage Four.
Cyclists will head along a route from Wooler to Alnwick, and down the spectacular Northumberland coastline, by way of Amble, to finish in Blyth.
The next stage will be from Prudhoe following Hadrian’s Wall, then cross the Pennines into Cumbria before ending on Hartside Fell.
Grant Davey, Leader of Northumberland County Council said; “A lot of work has taken place behind the scenes to bring this event to the county and we are proud and delighted that Northumberland will be hosting the Tour of Britain.
“It will give us a fantastic opportunity to showcase Northumberland, and all it has to offer, to an international audience. No amount of money could buy this sort of publicity.
“I’d like to publicly thank Northumbrian Water for their support in sponsoring the Northumberland leg of this event.”
David Hall, Head of Leisure, Strategy and Transformation at Northumbrian Water said: “As a company we work hard to promote the North East as a great place to live, work and visit and the bike race is sure to boost regional tourism and the economy.”
The event will also be featured on terrestrial TV, as ITV will screen three-hours of live coverage of every stage.
