"Get really excited..." - Borrowash and West Hallam gear up for Tour of Britain

The anticipated cycling event will pass through the East Midlands on 6 September 2024, spanning 86 miles, starting in Derby and finishing in Newark-on-Trent.

The UK's biggest cycling race is running from 1 September 2024 to 8 September 2024, and will see athletes compete during different legs in areas across Great Britain.

In Erewash, the route will pass through Borrowash, Risley and West Hallam before continuing through to Heanor, Eastwood, and Hucknall. Hundreds of spectators lined the streets the last time the Tour came to our patch, and the parishes are preparing to hold events to celebrate the race.

It's the first time that the Tour of Britain has been to Derbyshire since 2015, and the organisers have thanked Derbyshire County Council, Derby City Council, and the East Midlands Combined Authority for their help in bringing the route to life.

"The potholes make it a little bit challenging, but Erewash is a great place to cycle"

- Councillor Greg Maskalick, Borrowash

The leader of Ockbrook & Borrowash Parish Council, Greg Maskalick, is coincidentally an avid cyclist. He's looking forward to the community spirit that the event will bring, saying "it's really super exciting" to be coming through the parish.

To commemorate the Tour of Britain, the village will be hosting a replica 'Tour of Borrowash' bike ride for residents to take part in on the day afterwards (7 September 2024). It'll tour the area's surroundings and collect tokens from local pubs.

He said: "I've always enjoyed cycling since I was a little boy... I'm now 64 years old. So I would recommend anybody to go out and cycle, it is safe. You know you have to dress appropriately, have the helmet on and everything else. But if you're safe, it is safe."

Excited to share...Tour of Britain returning to Derbyshire with Stage 4 powering through the county on 6 September. 🚴‍♀️🚴‍♂️🚴
⏩Derby
⏩Elvaston Castle Country Park
⏩Borrowash
⏩Risley
⏩Dale Abbey
⏩West Hallam
⏩Stanley Common
⏩Smalley
⏩Heanor
⏩Langley Mill & into Notts. https://t.co/oZAHIDi8O6

— Derbyshire CC (@Derbyshirecc) August 1, 2024

Meanwhile, the Cabinet Member for Health & Communities at Derbyshire County Council, Carol Hart, has pointed to the potential health benefits that the Tour could bring - if it encourages more people to take up cycling.

She said: "It's important we're all active, I mean children nowadays seem to spend so much time in front of the television or games consoles. I do think it's necessary that you're trying to encourage people to get out there, to take part in things."

"It may not be everybody's cup of tea, but it's surprising now, you see lots of families going out with Mum, Dad, and the children. We've got lots of trails now where people can get involved. It's just another way of trying to get people involved."

According to the latest figures, nearly 75 million visitors came to the East Midlands in 2022/23, supporting over 50,000 jobs and creating and economic impact worth an estimated £5,000,000,000 (five billion pounds).

Earlier in the year a campaign was launched to promote Erewash as an area for tourists to visit with the Visit Erewash website, and the Tour of Britain is expected to provide an ample boost to its visibility.