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Wheels of fortune
The wheels are in motion for the Tour of Britain Cycle Race which visits Hull for the first time
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Scenes from last year's race |
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It promises to be a stunning spectacle of sport.
The country's highest-profile cycle event, featuring 96 professional cycle sportsmen racing in 16 teams of six cyclists, will bring its thrilling brand of speed, skill and passion to the city this autumn.
If you've ever watched the Tour de France on television you'll have an idea of what Hull has in store.
Starting in London and finishing in Liverpool, the cyclists will complete in eight stages over eight days.
Tour of Britain Stage 5 will set off from Hull on Thursday September 11 (the starting point and route through the city are still to be confirmed) and head north to Dalby Forest in North Yorkshire.
"We're looking forward to coming to Hull for the first time," says Tour of Britain spokesman Paul Rowlands.
"The city and its location by the Humber Bridge will provide a great visual backdrop for the race stage and I hope local spectators line the streets and really support the event."
Hull got the go-ahead as a host city after Hull City Council worked in partnership with regional economic development agency Yorkshire Forward, North Lincolnshire Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council and the Forestry Commission to bring the Tour of Britain to the region.
The occasion has all the ingredients needed to present a vibrant image of Hull to a nationwide television audience and boost the local economy.
Not only will the cyclists and race officials stay in local hotels, but the event is also expected to attract visitors and customers to the city, boosting takings at local cafés, restaurants, pubs and shops.
"The Tour of Britain generates a buzz wherever it goes," says Iain Collins, Yorkshire Forward's tourism development manager.
"It will raise Hull's profile and showcase what the city can offer. The positive publicity will have positive knock-on effects for the local economy and that is why we worked so hard to bring it to the region."
Cycle network
Meanwhile, Hull is one of the top 10 areas for cycling in the country, with around 14 per cent of all journeys to work being taken by bike.
In recent years Hull City Council has invested more than £3 million in new facilities for cyclists.
Hull now has 70 miles of cycle routes including cycle lanes alongside busy roads and off-road cycle tracks.
There are also 29 special crossings with traffic lights for cyclists where routes cross busy roads and 900 cycle parking spaces have been provided across the city.
Practical cycle training to national standards is provided by road safety officers and approved volunteers who teach it to year 5 and 6 pupils at primary schools across the city.
On average 1,200 pupils successfully complete the training every year.
"We are committed to making cycle journeys both safe and enjoyable," says Allan Davidson, Hull City Council's project development engineer. "The flat terrain makes a bike the perfect way to get around Hull."
Health benefits
Regular cycling can improve your health by:
- Providing an excellent workout for the heart and cutting the risk of a heart attack by half.
- Improving mental well-being and reducing anxiety, depression, stress and insomnia.
- Reducing the risk of obesity, stroke and high blood pressure.
- Building strength in the lower back and legs and improving mobility in hip and knee joints.
- Cycling is also good for the environment and can mean less car journeys are made which reduces the amount of exhaust fumes being released into the atmosphere.
Proud heritage
If you have been bitten by the cycling bug, why not visit Hull's Streetlife Museum of Transport?
The award-winning free-to-visit museum has a large historic bicycle collection including a rare Hobby Horse from 1818 and an iconic Raleigh Chopper of the 1970s.
The collection also includes bicycles manufactured in Hull at the turn of the last century by local makers WH Cressey of Anlaby Road and H Smithson and Son of George Street.
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