Nottingham will once again host a top cycling event as the Aviva Women’s Tour sets off from the city on Saturday 18 June.
Some of the world’s very best cyclists will take part, including the reigning World Road Race Champion (Lizzie Armitstead) and World Time Trial Champion (Linda Villumsen).
The Nottingham Girls Cycle group have been chosen to lead the elite cyclists out of the city. They’ll cycle the first 0.4 miles with their professional counterparts, from Old Market Square to Nottingham Playhouse.
Nottingham Girls Cycle is a friendly, social cycling club which was created as a result of the This Girl Can campaign aimed at encouraging women to exercise.
Cath Rodkoff, leader of Nottingham Girls Cycle, said: “We’re passionate about helping women get into cycling, no matter their age, experience, size or fitness levels. We don’t care how you look in lycra – our ladies cycle in dresses, jeans – just normal clothes! We’re all so proud to be asked to be involved in the Aviva Women’s Tour and can’t wait to lead the riders on Saturday.”
This weekend will mark the third time in recent years that the Tour, the UK’s largest free-to-spectate sporting event, has visited Nottingham. The peloton will travel out of the Old Market Square and up Derby Road, then along Ilkeston Road and onto Wollaton Road, down Wollaton Vale and across Priory Island, then into Beeston on Woodside Road and Queen’s Road. The cyclists will travel 200km to Stoke-On-Trent, across the hills of the Peak district.
The Old Market Square will host the start of the race, with cycling information and activities for visitors.
Coverage of the Aviva Tour of Britain will be seen in more than 200 million homes around the world, raising the profile of Nottingham as a global destination for visitors and investment.
Highlights will be shown each evening on ITV4 with a repeat the following morning on the same channel. The highlights will also be available on demand for 30 days via the ITV Hub catch-up service.
The Aviva Women’s Tour begins in Southwold, Suffolk, on Wednesday 15 June, finishing five stages later in Kettering on Sunday, 19 June.
Councillor Dave Trimble, Portfolio Holder for Leisure and Culture at Nottingham City Council, said: “Nottingham is so proud to host the Stage 4 start of the Aviva Women’s Tour, and it’s great to see top athletes like Lizzie Armistead and Marianne Vos coming to the city. I want everyone to get out onto the streets along the route to cheer the cyclists on – let’s show them what a great sporting city Nottingham is and inspire more women to get cycling.”