Dan Fleeman helps to launch Stage Seven

20.07.2010

Team Raleigh’s Dan Fleeman was present in Bury St Edmunds and Colchester on Friday to help officials launch Stage Seven of The Tour of Britain. The penultimate leg of The Tour will be jointly hosted by Suffolk and Essex, beginning in Bury St Edmunds before weaving its way across the Suffolk / Essex border through Lavenham, Sudbury, Braintree and Tiptree to the finish at Colchester.

Set against the beautiful backdrop of Bury St Edmunds cathedral, officials from The Tour of Britain, Suffolk County Council and supporting partners St Edmundsbury Borough Council and Babergh District Council helped to launch the Suffolk section of the stage to a large crowd in the morning.

After answering questions, posing for photographs and interviews, and signing autographs for the school children in attendance, Fleeman moved on to Colchester and the scenic setting of the Castle for the launch of the Essex section of the stage.

Come Friday 17th September and 100 of the world’s best cyclists will be racing between the two locations as The Tour of Britain draws to a conclusion, meaning that the destination of the yellow jersey could be decided on the roads of Suffolk and Essex.

Stage Seven will see cyclists depart Angel Hill in Bury St Edmunds at 10:15, with King of the Mountains climbs at Foxearth (approx. 11:20), Milden Hill (approx. 11:45) and Ballingdon Hill outside Sudbury (approx. 12:10) and Sprint points at Long Melford (approx. 11:29), Braintree (approx. 12:40) and Tiptree (approx. 13:20), with the finish on East Hill in Colchester due to take place at around 13:40.

Full details of the stage route will be available on this website in August in the Official Race Manual.

To hear Technical Director Mick Bennett interviewed by BBC Radio Essex, please click on the below link:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/other_sports/cycling/8830335.stm

What they said:

"I am really pleased that Suffolk is going to be part of this major sporting event. To support The Tour, we are planning a series of events and activities during the summer. Hosting The Tour also raises the profile of Suffolk and is an excellent opportunity for our local tourist industry and businesses. This puts Suffolk in the media spotlight across Britain and beyond, through international television broadcasts.”

Councillor Jane Storey, Deputy Leader of Suffolk County Council

"This is a fantastic opportunity for residents and competitive cyclists alike. Residents will get a chance to witness firsthand the spectacle of a professional cycle race and the cyclists will get to ride through one of the most beautiful parts of Suffolk. It may even inspire some of our residents to take up cycling themselves!"

Councillor David Wood, Babergh District Council’s Chairman

“We are looking forward to welcoming all the competitors and supporters to St Edmundsbury for this important sporting event. Bury St Edmunds is a wonderful place to host the start and I am sure that our visitors will be delighted with what they find here, and want to return.”

Councillor John Griffiths, Leader of St Edmundsbury Borough Council

“I am very pleased that Essex is hosting such a prestigious race. The Tour of Britain provides an ideal opportunity for our residents to watch one of the biggest cycling events in the British calendar from their very own doorsteps.

“I hope that The Tour of Britain will inspire people across the county to get on their bikes and discover how much fun cycling can be.”

Councillor Kevin Bentley, Essex County Council’s Cycle Champion

“Following on the success of The Tour Series event last year, The Tour of Britain is a major national sporting event with international coverage and is a considerable move forwards in raising the profile of Colchester nationally. It is hoped that this will help Colchester in its bid to host the 2012 Torch Relay for the Olympic Games.

“As a cycle town we are already encouraging residents to enjoy healthy living and the pleasure of cycling. We will also now have the opportunity to host a series of events with help and support from our local partners including CycleColchester for school children, residents and visitors to celebrate being part of The Tour of Britain.

“We want all our residents and visitors to have the chance to enjoy what promises to be a really fantastic and unique world-class sporting event finishing right here in the Town Centre.”

Nick Barlow, Portfolio Holder for Business and Tourism, Colchester Borough Council

Photo Caption: Left to right: Nick Barlow, Portfolio Holder for Business and Tourism, Colchester Borough Council, Dan Fleeman, Team Raleigh & Cllr Kevin Bentley, Essex County Council’s Cycle Champion