GET on your bike for May 2017 as the final pieces are put in place to bring the Pearl Izumi town centre bike race series back to Redditch.
Final negotiations are taking place for the borough to not only hold a leg of the event – but launch the entire series on Tuesday, May 9.
And the deal – which will bring the cream of British cycling to the town and showcase it to a worldwide TV audience – would be for three years.
The event also offers an opportunity for the entire community to get involved in what has the potential to be a true celebration of cycling in the town.
Costing approximately £100,000, such is the significance of the event that a wide range of organisations have chipped in to make sure it happens here in Redditch, including the borough council, Worcestershire county council, the Worcestershire and Birmingham & Solihull Local Enterprise Partnerships and individual county councillors.
“Redditch is a town built around the motor car but within that there is a substantial network of cycle routes and bus lanes which offer excellent traffic free travel,” said Dr Ken Pollock, the county councillor with responsibility for economy, skills and infrastructure.
“From an economic development point of view we see the race as highly significant and it also fits in well with our active travel transportation plan which is currently out for consultation.”
He added the race also offered an opportunity for local firms to not only get their name around the circuit, but also on TV and via name checks by the race commentator.
Local MP Karen Lumley, who said she would be ‘twisting arms’ to make sure the race goes ahead added: “I am delighted we are coming to the end of negotiations. This is a big thing for Redditch which is why I have got involved and why we cannot afford to lose it.
“This year it is going to be more on our terms with proper commercial sponsorship areas and I’m hopeful we can make it into a huge community event.”
Keen cyclist and local businessman Colin Fulford, who owns Cycle Studio on Church Green East said: “I’m involved because I’m simply keen on promoting cycling. I love cycling and I think everyone should be involved. Obviously we have the shop here and if we benefit so be it, but the main thing is the cycling.”
