Tour of Britain generates £10.8m in Cumbria

The economy of Allerdale alone was given a £2.7m boost with 40,000 spectators flocking to the area and almost half staying at least one night in hotels, hostels and bed and breakfasts.

The county saw a total of almost a quarter of a million cycling fans turn out to watch British cycling’s premier event.

This was higher than in 2016 figures when an estimated 175,000 people visited, boosting the economy by £5m.

This year’s Cumbrian leg was held over a Thursday and a Friday, the first time anywhere in the country had hosted two stages of the Tour of Britain

Cumbria County Council’s Local Committee for Allerdale is due to receive a presentation from Mark Brierley, Infrastructure Planning Officer, on Wednesday January 9 setting out some of the benefits of hosting the event.

Stage five, the tour’s first ever team time trial ran from Cockermouth to Whinlatter Visitor Centre on Thursday, September 6.

Barrow hosted stage six on Friday, September 7, when riders started outside Barrow Town Hall before tackling a 105-mile route taking in South Lakeland and parts of Allerdale.

Jonty Chippendale, owner of the Cockermouth Toy Shop, who is cited in the report, said the benefits in terms of future visitor numbers, health and the reputational boost to Cumbria was “probably incalculable.”

“The fantastic press from this internationally-covered race will benefit my business and the wider economy for years to come,” he added.

The main event was followed on September 8 by ‘Ride the Lakes’, a community cycling festival organised by the county council, Wheelbase and Pennine Events.

Starting at Kendal, the long route took in Kirkstone Pass, Keswick. Whinlatter Pass, Lorton, Crummock Water, Buttermere, Newlands Pass, Ambleside and The Struggle.

The event featured racing and skills sessions, short films from the Kendal Film Festival and a 12-mile family ride.