Headline sponsor announced for Cheltenham Festival of Cycling

The Bloor Homes Cheltenham Festival of Cycling, featuring the OVO Energy Tour of Britain, is set to make a difference to the long-term transport sustainability of the town, as well as assuring the success of the event on 9 September. Bloor Homes, who pride themselves on building new homes in the region with the added touch of ‘The Bloor Difference’, has committed to supporting the festival, which will feature a series of town-wide initiatives to enjoy, educate and get involved with.

On 9 September, the town will come alive with the Bloor Homes Cheltenham Festival of Cycling, at the same time playing host to more than 120 elite cyclists as they cross the finish line of the Stage 7 OVO Energy Tour of Britain. As well as signing Bloor Homes as the headline sponsor, the sponsorship team has also secured a number of additional festival sponsors in the last ten days including The Regent Arcade, The University of Gloucestershire, Breeze Radio, Hunter Page Planning, Martin & Co. Jewellers, Hotel Du Vin and Eurolink Connect. They all join sponsor Cotswold Transport Planning, who was the first to partner the event.

Mark Powell, regional sales director at Bloor Homes Western, said: “We are delighted to be sponsoring the Cheltenham Festival of Cycling this year. This is a fantastic event which celebrates cycling and I’m sure it will bring the whole town together to watch these elite athletes. Bloor Homes is committed to supporting the communities in which we build and we look forward to what is sure to be a hugely successful event.”

Councillor Rowena Hay, cabinet member for finance, said: “I’m delighted by Bloor Homes’ enthusiasm and support for the Cheltenham Festival of Cycling featuring OVO Tour of Britain. The support of our sponsors is essential to making this event a real success. We expect the event to attract thousands of spectators to the final of Stage Seven.

“The council has been working with the Tour’s organisers and local businesses to make sure that we deliver a great event for residents and visitors. Visitors to Cheltenham will be welcomed with a spectacular display of world-class athletes zipping through our Regency town which makes it clear that Cheltenham is a cycle friendly town.”

More information on the sponsors and the festival, including what is happening on the day can be found on the website.

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For media enquiries about the Bloor Homes Cheltenham Festival of Cycling, contact Jemima Lawson, communications officer, telephone 01242 775050, email [email protected].

For media enquiries and more information about sponsorship please contact Kelly Ramsay, Account Director, apt marketing & pr on 01242 250692 or email [email protected]

NOTES TO EDITORS

About Bloor Homes Western

Established in 1969, the Bloor Group is now one of the largest privately owned housing groups in the UK. Bloor Homes is based in Measham, near Swadlincote in Derbyshire, and has seven regional offices across the country.

About The Bloor Homes Cheltenham Festival of Cycling

On Saturday 9 September, 120 elite cyclists will be racing through Cheltenham Town Centre, in a bid to finish first in the penultimate stage of the Tour of Britain. Starting in Hemel Hempstead before touring much of The Cotswolds, Stage Seven of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain will culminate in a tough climb up the Skoda Cleeve Hill stretch, before skirting the Racecourse, freewheeling through Pittville Park, zipping down Albion Street, crossing the pedestrian area of the Promenade, to finish at Imperial Gardens in our historic town centre.

Organised by Cheltenham Borough Council, Stage Seven of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain is just one of the events taking place in a much wider celebration of cycling, which will see the town centre transformed with a festival vibe. With a focus on getting and staying active, residents and visitors alike can enjoy an active kids zone at Pittville Park, a demonstration zone, plus a cycling supplier zone where you can test out the latest bikes, enjoy exclusive on the day discounts and much more.

For more information, visit https://cheltenhamcyclingfestival.org.uk/.  The official hashtag is #CheltCycleFest

About The OVO Energy Tour of Britain

OVO Energy, the UK’s top rated independent energy supplier was recently announced as the title sponsor of the Tour of Britain.

Re-launched in 2004 after a five year absence from the calendar, the OVO Energy Tour of Britain is British Cycling’s premier road cycling event giving cycling fans the opportunity to see the world’s best teams and riders competing on their doorstep.  The OVO Energy Tour of Britain is the UK’s highest ranked professional stage race and the country’s largest free-to-watch sporting event, organised annually by SweetSpot Group.

Ranked at the 2.HC level by the UCI, the OVO Energy Tour of Britain attracts the world’s top cyclists, including Olympic and World Champions and Tour de France stage winners, to compete on British roads each September, with three-hours of live coverage a day on ITV4.

The OVO Energy Tour of Britain is British Cycling’s premier road cycling event, giving cycling fans the opportunity to see the world’s best teams and riders competing on their door step, taking place between Sunday 3 and Sunday 10 September 2017.

The official hashtag is now #OVOToB