Bury joins in the Tour of Britain

Bury St Edmunds will be turning out in force on Saturday 17 September to enjoy the thrills of the seventh stage of the Tour of Britain 2011, returning to the town for a second year. As well as welcoming the world’s top cyclists, there is a chance to join in a fundraising cycle challenge on Angel Hill.

Cllr Sara Mildmay-White, St Edmundsbury Cabinet member for Culture and Sport said,

“Bury St Edmunds is proud to welcome this prestigious event for a second year. The borough takes great pride in fostering the highest aspirations of our own residents, be it in sport or any other sphere. The Tour complements the broad Olympic legacy that we are creating and I hope that both events will inspire people to go for gold, whatever that represents in their lives”.

Over a hundred community riders will lead the race off from Angel Hill at 10.15am, before turning into Honey Hill allowing the 96 strong peloton to head south. The lead off pack will include members of the three-man Cycle to Rwanda team, who begin a 6000 mile 70 day fundraising trek in May 2012.

St Edmundsbury will be hosting the Rwandan Olympic and Paralympic teams for London 2012 and have set up the Sport for Rwanda appeal, to raise £80,000 to leave a lasting legacy in the country. Sport is not taught in Rwandan schools and the appeal aims to give more than 100,000 schoolchildren the ability to take part in sport, giving them sports equipment, a place to store it and educational materials to help teachers. www.sportforrwanda.org/cycle-to-rwanda

Local businesses will be hosting displays on Angel Hill as part of the Bury St Edmunds Business Festival and after the race has departed, donning lycra for a Business Challenge cycle event. Local organisations are being invited to enter teams of four riders to race against one another on a short route around Angel Hill. Bikes are available to borrow. To enter and to reserve a bike, please complete a form, downloadable from www.stedmundsbury.gov.uk . The participation fee of £30 per team includes insurance and a donation to Sport for Rwanda.

There are also free entry races for young people. The events are being organised by the West Suffolk Wheelers and Triathalon Club, using bikes provided by Cycle Suffolk. Riders are asked to bring their own helmets and some form of team t-shirt. Bikes can be borrowed by prior arrangement. To register and to reserve a bike, please send your details and a cheque payable to West Suffolk Wheelers care of Barry Denny, Denny Bros Ltd, Kempson Way, Bury St Edmunds IP32 7AR.