Tour of Britain heading for Yarmouth sea front

GREAT Yarmouth's Golden Mile has been chosen as one of the finishing lines for the greatest cycling in the UK - the Tour of Britain.

Footage from the Tour of Britain will be beamed around the globe, when riders set off in September. Up to a million spectators are expected to cram the roadsides for the eight-day event.

Norfolk's coastline and countryside will be centre stage on Day Six - Thursday, September 16 - for what may be the biggest spectator event the county has even seen.

Setting off from King's Lynn's Tuesday Market Place, riders will pass through North Norfolk and Norwich on their way to the finishing line in Yarmouth almost 120 miles later.

Some of the world's top riders will compete for the right to wear the hallowed yellow jersey, on a route which showcases Norfolk as a cycling destination.

Talks between race organisers and councils across Norfolk have been going on for 12 months.

As well as the economic benefits the race will bring to Norfolk through increased tourism, officials hope the Tour will boost local interest in cycling and sport.

Norfolk County Council has pledged �175,000, with additional funding coming from West Norfolk, North Norfolk, Broadland, Norwich City and Yarmouth councils.

Hugh Roberts, chief executive of Tour of Britain, said: “We are extremely pleased to be bringing the 2010 Tour of Britain to Norfolk. Our partners Norfolk County Council have provided us with the confidence that the stage in Norfolk will be challenging one for the riders and at the same time an exciting one for all the spectators.

“To be able to show what Norfolk has to offer to the huge cycling fan base of Western Europe as a boost to cycling tourism in the region is an especially exciting prospect.”

The stage will begin from King's Lynn's Tuesday Market Place on Thursday morning, before ending mid-afternoon on Yarmouth's South Beach Parade.