WITH 100 days to go (Friday 27 May), Redcar and Cleveland is gearing up for the Tour of Britain cycle race on Wednesday 7 September, when Olympic, Tour de France and World Champion riders will be flying past our front doors.
Stage 4 of the race will start from Redcar's Esplanade, before taking in the Coast Road, Marske High Street and Saltburn's Hilda Place, Marine Parade, Glenside and Victoria Terrace. A cut through Marske Mill Lane, Hob Hill Lane and Apple Orchard Bank takes the peloton onto Skelton High Street, through North Skelton and across the A174 to Brotton, before travelling out through Carlin How, Loftus Bank and Loftus itself. Easington is the final village in the borough on the route before the cyclists hit the A174 towards Whitby.
To get the Redcar stage kicked off, Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council need a fantastic start flag; and are inviting our young people aged 16 and under to design it.
Templates can be downloaded below:
Entrants may choose to use an online tool to create their design, or to print off the template, complete their design by hand then scan it for submission to: ToB@redcar-cleveland.gov.uk. Alternatively, postal entries can be sent to: TOB Competition, Bellamy Pavilion, Kirkleatham Museum, Kirkleatham, Redcar, TS10 5NW.
Entries must be received by Wednesday 6 July.
In addition to the winning flag being used to wave off world elite riders, both the winning and runner-up designs will be produced as paper flags and handed out to thousands of spectators along the route.
Also running is a competition to design a Redcar and Cleveland themed cyclist's jersey. Prizes will be given to the winner and runner-up. Templates can be downloaded below and entries submitted in the same way.
Accompanying the design templates are PowerPoint files, which entrants can download, save and use to create a mini-presentation explaining their design – however, this element of the competition is optional. The link to the Powerpoint for the flag competition can be accessed below:
The jersey competition PowerPoint can be found below:
The hosting of this national event supports the Council's ambition to develop and profile the area as a key place for cycling and the hosting of large-scale sporting events. Hosting this leading sporting event in our area has been funded by Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, supported by the Tees Valley Combined Authority.
Councillor Louise Westbury, cabinet member for Climate Change, Environment and Culture, said:
“This is a highly prestigious sporting event, which we are very excited to have secured for our borough. It is expected to attract many spectators and bring a lot of trade to local businesses.
“To have such inspiring athletes on our own streets will provide our youngsters in particular with some very special memories. Getting involved in the event by designing a jersey or the actual start flag to be used is a special opportunity, and we hope as many of our young people and their families as possible will give it a go."
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “Over recent years we've seen a huge explosion in people getting involved with cycling either as a leisure activity, to keep fit or as a competitive sport. This investment will mean we can build on Redcar and Cleveland's track record of successfully hosting major cycling events like this and put it on the map as a cycling destination.
“We have an amazing programme of events right across Teesside, Darlington and Hartlepool this summer including the Teesside Airshow, a whole series of annual festivals and the Rugby League World Cup 2022. Events like these not only get people out and about in our communities, but also play a key role in supporting our brilliant small businesses and ultimately put more money in the pockets of local people."
You can follow the Tour of Britain on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram or via the event's official website at tourofbritain.co.uk.