Nottinghamshire to host stage of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain

Nottinghamshire will host an entire stage of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain, the UK’s premier road cycling race, this September as the event visits Mansfield and Newark-on-Trent for the first time.  It is the only county in the Midlands to host one of the eight stages. Wednesday 6 September will see 120 of the world’s top cyclists racing a 175-kilometre stage from Mansfield to Newark-on-Trent.  The route will take in Eastwood, Hucknall, Gedling and the grounds of Newstead Abbey and the centre of Southwell. After heading through Sherwood Forest and Clumber Park the stage will loop the north of the county and the towns of Worksop and Retford.  The OVO Energy Tour of Britain will also pass through Harworth and Bircotes, passing the museum and memorial to 1965 World Champion Tommy Simpson in the latter. Derek Higton, Nottinghamshire County Council Service Director for Cultural Services said: “This is a great coup for Nottinghamshire to host a full stage of the UK’s biggest free-to-attend sporting event for the first time. “With a world-wide audience of millions and 1.6 million spectators expected over the 8-day race, all eyes will be on Nottinghamshire on Wednesday 6 September.   “We are delighted at the prospect of some of the biggest names in cycling coming to our county and hope it inspires more people to cycle, whether that be to get to work, help them keep fit, or just to get out to enjoy the great outdoors. “With 175 kilometres of Nottinghamshire roads due to be covered by the race, there will be plenty of opportunities for local spectators to be part of this fantastic event. More details will be announced over the coming months.” It will be the first time that Nottinghamshire has hosted a start and finish of a stage of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain.  The race last passed through the county in 2015 when a stage finished in Nottingham. Brendan Moffett, Chief Executive of Marketing Nottingham & Nottinghamshire, said: “It is tremendous news for Nottinghamshire to host an entire stage of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain, the UK’s biggest and most prestigious professional cycling race. “As England’s official Home of Sport, it is a brilliant opportunity to bring some of the world’s best athletes to Nottinghamshire and it will cement our position as a county that can host major, high-profile, international sporting events.  “The free-to-attend event is expected to attract a huge number of visitors and it will allow us to place Nottinghamshire as a visitor destination on a global stage.  We are working with event organisers and our partners to ensure the success of the event as it will have a huge economic impact on the local visitor economy.”  Mick Bennett, Race Director of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain, said: “We have worked hard with our Nottinghamshire partners to create an attractive route that will take in six of the county's districts and bring the OVO Energy Tour of Britain to areas we have never before visited. “The Nottinghamshire leg will be the only stage of the OVO Tour of Britain this year in the Midlands, which will bring fans from across the country to watch Stage Four whether in Mansfield, Newark or across the route.” OVO Energy, the UK’s top rated independent energy supplier was recently announced as the title sponsor of the Tour of Britain. The OVO Energy Tour of Britain is British Cycling’s premier road cycling event, giving cycling fans the opportunity to see the world’s best teams and riders competing on their door step, taking place between Sunday 3 and Sunday 10 September 2017.