A RALLYING call has been issued to city businesses in a bid to raise the £150,000 needed to bring the women’s equivalent of cycling’s Tour de France to the Faithful City.
The world’s top women cyclists could be wheeling through Worcester next year after a bid was launched to hold a stage of the prestigious women’s Tour of Britain event.
With £150,000 in sponsorship needed to bring a complete stage of the race, the event is certain to attract some of the biggest names in sport and will cast an international spotlight on the city.
The ambitious plans are being spearheaded by the local Chamber of Commerce while council chiefs will be asked to set the wheels in motion by agreeing to a £15,000 contribution at a meeting of the City Council’s cabinet on Tuesday (June 14).
The bid follows the success of the men’s tour in 2014, which attracted thousands of visitors and boosted the local economy by £995,849 according to official figures.
City council leader Coun Adrian Gregson said: “Worcester’s reputation as a top sporting city is growing all the time and securing a complete stage of the women’s Tour of Britain would be a big boost to tourism and our wider economy.
“The Tour is the biggest cycling event in the world for women, and sends out a brilliant positive message about getting more women competing in all areas of sport.
“I’ve no doubt that residents and visitors alike would line the streets in their thousands to cheer on the nation’s best women cyclists.”
Mike Ashton, Chief Executive of Herefordshire and Worcestershire Chamber of Commerce, said: “It would be truly prestigious for Worcestershire to host a complete stage of the women’s Tour of Britain, a full day of some of the world’s finest athletes competing on the county’s streets.
“I’m hoping businesses will get behind this great bid and help us reach the £150,000 sponsorship target,” he added.
Speaking to the Observer, the head of Worcester BID, Adrian Field said hosting a stage would bring economic benefits to Worcester.
“The number of people who will stay in the hotels, have meals, take day trips and night trips is very positive,” he said. “It continues a line of top quality international sporting events we have had in Worcester, including the annual 10k race, the men’s Tour of Britain and the European Wheelchair Basketball Championships.
“For such a small city, Worcester really does punch above its weight with the quality of sport.
“It is a beautiful backdrop for the event to take place, very economical and really raises the profile of the city,” Mr Field added.
Local businesses are urged to contact Mike Ashton to find out more about the campaign at [email protected] .
