Tour de France welcome team gets ready for big race

Members of the Tour de France volunteer team with Julie Durrant, Link4Life Volunteer Co-ordinator front row right

As Littleborough looks forward to welcoming the largest free sporting event in the world this weekend, final preparations are in place to provide a friendly welcome to visitors on the day with the help of a team of willing volunteers.

The local squad will add their local knowledge to that of the official Tour de France volunteers to ensure that the prestigious event passes through the borough smoothly and that spectators are able to enjoy the experience in safety.

Briefing the volunteer team, Link4Life Volunteer Co-ordinator Julie Durrant thanked everyone for giving up their time to support the event. She said, “Potentially thousands of people will be making their way up to see the race pass by. It will be the important role of the volunteers to provide a friendly face to answer any questions, direct people to the amenities available and provide a point of contact if necessary for any assistance required.”

The second day of the Tour de France leaves York in the morning on Sunday 6 July as the 22 teams of nearly 200 riders makes its way around the North West at speeds of up to 40 mph to end the day at Sheffield. It passes by Blackstone Edge reservoir above Littleborough in the early afternoon after climbing the five and a half mile incline of Cragg Vale, the longest continuous hill climb in England.

Spectators will have the chance to spot Britain’s hopeful for overall race winner, Chris Froome who is looking to take his place on the winner’s podium for the second year running. Riding for Team Sky he is one of five UK riders taking part in the three week cycling challenge that will cover around 2,200 miles before it reaches its final Paris destination. A worldwide television audience is estimated to be 3 billion people in 190 countries.

Wearing distinctive yellow T-Shirts, the volunteers will take up positions to help manage park and ride facilities and parking and shuttle bus access to the event centre off the A58 on Halifax Road.

Mark Widdup, Director of Economy and Environment at Rochdale Borough Council also added his thanks, saying: “For the brief time that the Tour de France passes through our borough the eyes of the world will be on us. We play a small but important part in the overall success of a massive event. I’m sure it will be a memorable day for all those giving it their support.”

Planned community events will take place at Littleborough’s Hare Hill Park and Hollingworth Lake over the weekend.