Cycle Wiltshire is coming

With just over two weeks to go, the excitement is building for a special spring weekend of cycling in Wiltshire.

Sir Bradley Wiggins’ newly formed Team Wiggins will be one of the eleven professional cycling teams that will be racing through south Wiltshire in the Cycle Wiltshire Grand Prix on Sunday 10 May. Around 120 elite riders from top professional teams will take part in the elite cycle race, part of the British Cycling National Road Race series.

Among the riders will be last year’s winner Marcin Białobłocki, who will be keen to retain his crown.

Local people can line the route to support and see some of the best riders in Britain as they race.

This year the day starts with the team introductions at the Salisbury Guildhall Square from 10am. The riders will then set off under non-race conditions at 11am. The peloton will head through Salisbury city centre including the Cathedral Close, before the official race start in Wilton. The racing circuit will then take in Burcombe, Barford St Martin, Compton Chamberlayne, Fovant, Ebbesbourne Wake, Bishopstone and Broad Chalke, with riders taking on the challenging climb of Fovant Hill multiple times. The race will pass through Wilton 10 times and will finish in Wilton Market Square at approx 3pm.

For more details, visit www.cyclewiltshire.org.uk

The event is part of the council’s Legacy for Wiltshire initiative, which focuses on encouraging people to keep fit and active, bringing local communities together and boosting the local economy.

Jane Scott, leader of Wiltshire Council and chair of the Legacy Steering Board said: “We have been extremely fortunate in Wiltshire to have seen lots of top class cycling right on our doorstep. Last September the Tour of Britain came through the county’s roads and the communities in Bradford on Avon, Trowbridge, Devizes and Pewsey came out in force to welcome and cheer on the peloton. I am delighted that the rise in the profile of cycling has inspired so many people to get on their bikes, get fit and enjoy themselves and our beautiful Wiltshire countryside.

“I’m sure lots of people will be thrilled to see the riders compete and I know many have also taken up the challenge on 9 May to cycle one our Sportive rides. The whole weekend promises to be exciting, active and a lot of fun.”