THE UK's second biggest cycle race wheels into Lancashire this week, promising thrills and spills for spectators.

More than a hundred of Europe's finest professional cyclists are competing in the five-stage International TravelWise Tour. The race covers more than 250 miles in just four days, including a special circuit race of Accrington town centre and a final gruelling stage, which loops though the Ribble Valley and Longridge several times.

TravelWise in Lancashire is organised and funded by Lancashire County Council as part of an on-going campaign to encourage people to use public transport, walk or cycle.

Cycling is one of the largest spectators sports in the world and the public are being invited to turn out and watch the free event.

The county council has also joined with other local authority TravelWise sections to sponsor its own professional TravelWise Cycle Team, who will be hoping to lift the honours this year.

The tour takes place on: Friday - Lydgate to Uppermill, Oldham; Saturday - Bolton to Holcombe, Rossendale; Sunday - Cockerham Time Trial; circuit races, Accrington town centre; Bank Holiday Monday - Longridge Fell Circuit.

Accrington Cycling Festival, which coincides with the tour, gets under way in the town centre at 10am on the Sunday, when the first race of the day will be for juveniles.

The highlight will be at 3.30pm when Stage 4 of the TravelWise Tour takes place and, in between, there will be a wide range of supporting cycle races for all age groups and categories.

There will also be an opportunity to see and try out a hand bike for people with disabilities at a Wheels For All Demonstration in Broadway.

At Peel Park, Accrington, in association with Blackburn and district Mountain Bike Club, there will be mountain bike racing for everyone.

Blowjangles, a zany group of street musicians from Blackburn, will be providing entertainment for all the family; Upshot Circus Arts will have a clown show and walkabout clown in the crowds; plus there will be face painters in Broadway.

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