COUNCILLORS are urging residents and businesses to back this year’s Colne Grand Prix as organisers bid to keep the momentum going.

Colne Town Council have taken on a greater role in the running of the event this year, as Pendle Borough Council takes a backward step.

MORE TOP STORIES:

The 12th annual race around the streets of Colne will take place on July 15, and local competitors Paul Oldham and Ian Wilkinson yesterday answered questions at Fort Vale Engineering, which is sponsoring the shorter distance Sprint for Success race on the night.

Cllr Sarah Cockburn-Price, chair of the town council, said: “Pendle Council have taken a back seat in organising it, but as a town council we were determined to keep it going; it’s become a date on the cycling calendar.

“We’ve agreed to underwrite the event this year but we are hoping local businesses will support us.

“We are doing things like a mention in the programme for £50 and sponsoring primes, which will be races on a certain lap within the main race, which will hopefully keep people interested and excited as the race goes on.

“It’s a great event for Colne and it attracts great crowds.

“The benefits are intangible. We don’t know how many people see Colne for the first time and think they will come back, or how many meals out and pints are bought in the town.”

It is not the only major cycling event in Pendle this year, with Colne staging a finish of a Tour of Britain stage on September 7 that will weave its way through the Ribble Valley before arriving in the borough.

Cllr Ian Tweedie, Pendle Council’s tourism leader, said: “Cycling is a big area for Pendle Council. Hopefully a successful Colne Grand Prix will get people out for the Tour of Britain stage.

“With the Steven Burke Hub we have a lot of people taking up cycling and our landscape is very popular cycling country. It’s great to see.”

The Colne Grand Prix has become one of the best known events on the calendar with champion riders and rising stars taking to the streets.

Thousands of people turn out to watch the thrilling spectacle which is now established as a major race.