Business leaders and a town mayor have hailed the economic boost that a world class spectacle is set to provide in Lowestoft.
With East Suffolk being announced as hosting the final stage of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain men's cycle race for the first ever time, the "prestigious" finale will start in Lowestoft in September.
As Britain's most easterly town kickstarts stage six of British Cycling’s premier road cycling race - which features Olympic, world and Tour de France champions - it is set to provide a welcome boost.
The new Mayor of Lowestoft Cllr Nasima Begum (left) receives the mayoral chain from the outgoing Mayor Cllr Sonia Barker (right). Picture: Lowestoft Town Council (Image: Lowestoft Town Council)
Delighted that the tour is coming to town, the Mayor of Lowestoft, Cllr Nasima Begum, said: "It is wonderful news that Lowestoft will play host to the final stage of this year’s Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men.
"This is a great opportunity to promote Lowestoft, bring new people to the town and provide a boost to our local economy.
The final stage of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men will start in Lowestoft in September. Picture: Mick Howes (Image: Mick Howes)
"I hope many people will turn out to support this prestigious event as some of the world’s best cyclists come to Lowestoft."
With live coverage of the race shown daily on ITV4 and worldwide, it means Britain's most easterly town will come into the global gaze as some of the world's best cyclists hit Lowestoft.
The final stage of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men will start in Lowestoft in September. Picture: Mick Howes. (Image: Mick Howes)
After stage five is completed in Northampton on Saturday, September 7, the finale will roll into Lowestoft, with the peloton following a route from the seafront promenade area, through the villages, before the champion is crowned in Felixstowe on September 8.
Some of the competitors as they left the start line in Felixstowe last year (Image: Charlotte Bond) (Image: Charlotte Bond)
Lowestoft Vision - the Business Improvement District for the town - said they will be encouraging businesses to "fly the flag" for the town.
Lowestoft Vision chairman Danny Steel said: "This is a very big event it will 100pc provide a really big boost to the town.
Lowestoft Vision chairman Danny Steel (Image: Lowestoft Vision)
"With all the television coverage it will very much put Lowestoft into the spotlight and provide an economic boost.
"It has got to be a really good thing for the town and from a Lowestoft Vision perspective we will be encouraging businesses in the town centre to get behind it and advertise the fact that the Tour of Britain is coming to town!
"And by being the town that starts the final stage, we will have everyone - the whole jamboree - here."
As the tour takes in the Scottish Borders, Tees Valley, South Yorkshire, West Northamptonshire and ends in East Suffolk, hundreds of thousands of people are expected to line the streets for Britain’s biggest free-to-attend sporting spectacle.
With it being the first time that a stage will start and end in East Suffolk, it will also be a first as the race concludes in the district.
While Felixstowe has hosted starts and finishes of men’s and women’s Tours before, Lowestoft last had the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men race through in 2012 during the opening stage that ran from Ipswich to the Royal Norfolk Showground.
Back then, and with hundreds of people turning out in Lowestoft to catch a glimpse of Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish cycling through town, the race was estimated to have given Suffolk a £1.1m economic boost.
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