A RALLYING call has been made by the Leader of the City Council urging businesses to help fund Worcester’s bid to once again host a stage of an international cycling race.
Coun Adrian Gregson issued the call after Worcester City Council agreed to hand over £15,000 towards the sponsorship of a bid to hold one of the final stages of the Men’s Tour of Britain next September.
However, in order to secure the race, £80,000 needs to be raised. Malvern Hills and Wychavon District Councils have pledged a total of £20,000 towards the bid, but this still leaves the City Council £45,000 short of target.
Council chiefs are now hoping businesses and organisations across the Faithful City will sponsor the bid to plug the funding gap.
Coun Gregson said: “The Men’s Tour of Britain is the country’s biggest free-to-spectate sporting event and hosting a stage of it in Worcester will put our city on the national and international sporting maps.
“The City Council is committed to making Worcester both a prosperous city and a healthy and active city – and having part of the Tour of Britain starting here in Autumn 2017 will give a major boost to achieving those aims.
“When the tour was last here in 2014, 75,000 visited our city to watch it, spending over £1 million here and around the county, so there’s a clear boost to our economy.
“Having some of the world’s top cyclists riding through our streets and countryside is an inspiring sight, which I’m sure will encourage many of our residents to start peddling.
“I want to encourage businesses and other organisations around our city to back our bid to bring this fantastic international event to Worcester.”
Anyone interested in sponsoring the Worcester stage of the Men’s Tour of Britain should email [email protected].
