THE leader of Pendle Council, Cllr Mohammed Iqbal, has released a message to celebrate the Avvia Tour of Britain coming to his borough.

He said: “This is going to be a must-see event for local people and visitors.

“Cyclists weaving through Pendle’s wild landscape will make for a spectacular sight.

“We’re delighted to be working in partnership with Ribble Valley Borough Council to host day two of this historic race.

“At 100 miles, it’s the shortest but toughest of all of this year’s stages taking in three SKODA King of the Mountains, three YodelDirect spints and a lap of the dramatic Pendle Hill.

“It’s a spectacular backdrop for Tour enthusiasts who want to see the cyclists put through their paces.”

Pendle Council is expecting thousands of people to come and watch the race with its bars, cafes, restaurants and accommodation providers reaping the benefits of the extra footfall.

It’s also hoping tourism businesses will feel a long-term boost, with three hours of live TV broadcast per stage beaming views of Pendle to a global audience of up to eight million viewers in 120 countries.

Councillor Iqbal added: “Pendle really is a hidden gem and this gives us an amazing opportunity to show the world what we have to offer.

“It gives cycling fans a chance to come and watch the race while exploring our towns and villages at the same time.

“And we want to make sure that our local businesses make the most of the race powering through the borough.

“Why not put on a couple of special offers to bring in the visitors? If sell food, you could create a special Tour of Britain menu (red, white and blue theme) or bakeries could sell bicycle shaped cakes and biscuits.

“Help us to create a real festival atmosphere and display our posters, put up bunting and flags. You could even decorate a bike to display outside your business.”

For more information on how you can get involved, contact Alice Barnett on (01282) 661780 or e-mail tourofbritain@pendle.gov.uk

For up-to-date information keep an eye on www.tourofbritainstage2.co.uk