Show what Nottinghamshire has to offer ahead of Tour of Britain with decorations and community events

Communities across Nottinghamshire are being urged to get involved and showcase what the county has to offer as the Tour of Britain returns to the region for the third time later this year.

The race, which will run between September 4 to September 11, became the largest free-to-attend sporting event in Nottinghamshire’s history in 2018, attracting 250,000 spectators.

The Nottinghamshire leg of the eight stage cycling race will take place on September 8.

Athletes will travel 190km between West Bridgford, passing through communities including Calverton, Southwell and Edwinstowe, before finishing up outside of Mansfield Civic Centre.

The route will also take riders past some of the county’s most scenic and historic locations including Southwell Minster, Clumber Park and Sherwood Forest.

A detailed interactive map can be found on the Tour of Britain website highlighting the route that the tour will take – giving residents, schools, landowners, and businesses the perfect opportunity to start planning for the big day.

Residents can get involved in the event by transforming their towns and villages with bunting, flags and yellow bikes or by taking part in a national land art competition, to turn fields, hills, gardens and open spaces into creative art displays.

The tradition of creating huge pieces of art visible for television cameras flying above has long been celebrated with race organisers launching a competition to find the most eye-catching.

Tom Smith, Nottinghamshire County Council’s deputy cabinet member for communities, said: “With a global TV audience of millions and the eyes of the world on Nottinghamshire again this year, let’s get creative and help make it a sporting extravaganza to remember by showcasing what our great county has to offer.

“On the two previous occasions we’ve hosted the race, we had so many examples of land art creations by schools, community groups and landowners which were highlighted by Tour organisers for inspiring them to encourage people across the route to show their support and get creative.

“Who can forget the iconic image of a bicycle made of sheep feeding created by Nottinghamshire farmer Des Allen during the 2017 stage, footage which subsequently went viral on social media.”

With just over two months to go until the start of the race, a special event was held at Southwell Minster to kick-start a summer of cycling.

It was attended by students from Lowe’s Wong Junior School, who took part in a mini-Bikeability session to promote cycle safety for children.

Via East Midlands, which manages highways services on behalf of the county council, delivers the Bikeability scheme to provide cycle training tips for young people in schools across the region.

Tracy Graham, Road Safety Manager for the scheme said the Tour coming to Nottinghamshire in previous years led to a spike in interest in Bikeability courses and cycling in general.

She said: “It’s amazing that it’s coming through Nottinghamshire again. When it came before it provided us with a fantastic opportunity to showcase cycle training."

Tracy added that many people had a new interest and a new-found love of cycling and going out on the road.

Go to the county council’s website for more information about the Nottinghamshire stage of the Tour of Britain.