Countdown to return of UK’s top cycle race

Anticipation is building with just over a week to go until cycling’s biggest UK racing event, the Tour of Britain, returns to the area.

Thousands of spectators turned out last September to watch some of the sport’s top names pass through Newark, Southwell and surrounding villages.

Newark and Sherwood, and Rushcliffe, will host part of the Nottinghamshire stage on the penultimate day of the week-long event on Saturday, September 8

The Nottinghamshire stage will cover 215.6km, making it the longest in this year’s race.

It starts in West Bridgford at 10.30am and will pass through Cotgrave (11.21am) Cropwell Bishop (11.26am) Cropwell Butler (11.30am) Radcliffe (11.34am) and Shelford (11.41am) before crossing into Newark and Sherwood.

The riders are due in Gunthorpe at 11.45am and then in Lowdham three minutes later, Oxton at 12.10pm, Oxton Hill at 12.13pm, and Southwell at 12.20pm.

The stage then goes to Hockerton (12.27pm) Caunton (12.34pm) Norwell (12.39pm) Ossington (12.44pm) Moorhouse (12.46pm) Laxton (12.51pm) Egmanton (12.55pm) Budby (1.47pm) Sherwood Forest Country Park (1.48pm) Edwinstowe (1.52pm) Ruff-ord Abbey Country Park (1.55pm) Bilsthorpe (2.01pm) Kirklington (2.08pm) Edingley (2.11pm) Farnsfield (2.14pm) and Blidworth (2.20pm).

It finishes in Mansfield at around 3.53pm.

In Bilsthorpe, there will be a fun day, including cycle-themed songs performed by a local choir.

Schoolchild-ren in Halam are gearing up to line the route with flags and there will be yellow bikes galore in Edingley.

Consultancy firm Frontline said 210,000 visitors watched the 2017 stage in Nottinghamshire, 39% of whom were from outside the county.

A total of 391,000 people watched live coverage on ITV4, with 508,000 viewing the highlights and a further 47,000 the repeat.

Spectators spent a combined estimated £234,524, according to Frontline’s study, and the Nottinghamshire economy was boosted by more than £3.4m.

Nottinghamshire County Council has set a challenge to find the best dressed champion in each district — with a prize on offer.

Leader Kay Cutts said: "With a global television audience of millions, the eyes of the world will also be upon us, so it’s a wonderful opportunity to showcase what our great county has to offer.

"We will be looking for flair, creativity and villages or towns that have gone the extra mile to embrace the spirit of the Tour of Britain.

"Last year, the efforts of the 45 villages and towns along the route brought tremendous sparkle to the day.

"Hours of hard work and dedication went into creating the miles of bunting, countless flags, dozens and dozens of yellow bikes, and all the impressive displays of land art."

All eight stages of the tour will be shown live on ITV 4.

The strongest ever line-up in the race’s history includes the reigning Tour de France and Giro d’Italia champions, Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome respectively, who will be competing for Team Sky.

André Greipel — a five-time stage winner — is returning shortly after he finished fourth in the Tour de France.

Team Lotto NL-Jumbo claimed overall victory in last year’s race with Lars Boom, and the Dutch squad’s six-rider team for 2018 offers strength in depth.

Slovenian Primoz Roglic, who headlines the team, has already won more than 20 professional races in his short professional cycling career, including overall honours at the Tours of Romandie and the Basque Country in 2018.

He has won stages in the Tour de France in both 2017 and 2018.