Big bike race: Get an 'Eiffel' of Paris aces

Thousands of people are poised to see cycling sensation Tom Pidcock powering through Erewash on Friday 6th September – as he battles fellow Paris Olympics gold medal winner Remco Evenepoel in the Tour of Britain.

The East Midlands leg of the UK’s biggest bike race – screened live on ITV4 – will see more than 100 of the world’s top riders sweep through Borrowash at around 11:15am.

They will then head along Nottingham Road through Risley before taking a sharp left on to Rushy Lane. Their route will take them to Dale Abbey via No Man’s Lane. After passing through the village – which is hoping to attract tourists to sights such as Hermit’s Cave – the riders will emerge on to Ladywood Road at Arbour Hill.

Turning right towards Kirk Hallam they will then take a left on to Cat and Fiddle Lane. The race will skirt West Hallam until riders turn left on to Belper Road at the Station Road junction with High Lane West.

That will take them through Stanley Common at around 11:37am before they turn right towards Smalley, Heanor and Langley Mill along the A608.

The spectacle will see rolling road closures but race organisers aim to keep disruption to a minimum. Further details are on the Erewash Borough Council website.  Additionally, you can view the route through Erewash by clicking here.

Pidcock, from Leeds, won Olympic mountain biking gold barely a month ago. Arch-rival Evenepoel, 24, from Belgium, scooped two cycling golds at the Paris Games. He will be sporting a gold helmet and bike. Spectators lining the route of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain are also urged to keep an eye out for 19-year-old Ben Wiggins – son of cycling legend Bradley.

Pidcock, 25 – nicknamed Pidders – said: “The Tour of Britain is a really special race for me. Returning to the UK after a such busy year of racing and to pin on numbers in front of the passionate home fans, always provides great motivation. I can’t wait to get out there with my INEOS Grenadier teammates in our home race and we look forward to seeing you all out along the road.” 

Residents are invited to an “Erewash Celebrates Tour of Britain 2024” event organised in partnership with West Hallam Parish Council.

It kicks off at 10:30am at West Hallam Community Centre, which riders will pass on Station Road. Union flags will be handed out – and a “Good luck from Erewash” banner will be displayed.

Borough councillor Josy Hare, who is Lead Member for Health and Wellbeing, said it was “fantastic” that the race was coming to Erewash. She added: “It will be a great opportunity for the community to turn out and cheer the cyclists on. The council’s community health and wellbeing team are pulling out all the stops to make it as memorable as possible.”