Anyone who was considering a trip to the Ribble Valley or Pendle to take in the atmosphere and watch the Tour of Britain pass through might just have been persuaded by today’s news.

Lancashire hero Sir Bradley Wiggins is taking part in the highly-anticipated event, cycling a route he knows well from his training sessions.

The appearance of the Tour de France winner is bound to further stoke up interest in the race from spectators eager to catch a glimpse of the cyclist.

And the wonderful addition of Sir Bradley will even be a draw for people without expert knowledge of the sport.

Excitement is already building ahead of the event with just 19 days to go.

Colne is decorated with patriotic red, white and blue bikes hanging from trees, lampposts and railings, and others are destined to follow as the buzz builds.

The top names in cycling are sure to bring a boost to the local economy as well as hopefully, like the Tour de France, inspiring more and more people to get into the saddle and enjoy the health benefits.

Let’s make sure Sir Bradley and the rest of the riders are treated to a true Lancashire-style welcome when they arrive in the county on September 7.