A GROUP of specially selected cycling enthusiasts from across the North East have joined together to spread the word about the exciting events on offer at the Stockton Cycling Festival 2016.
Around 60 people have been selected to be official ambassadors and have been tasked with promoting the exhilarating cycling events coming up shortly in Stockton.
From the Time Trial National Championships on Thursday 23 June to the Women’s and Men’s National Road Race Championships coupled with a mass participation family ride (RideStockton) and a huge family fun day onSunday 26 June, with youth racing and Stockton Sportive in-between, there’s plenty of sporting action to shout about this summer.
All of the ambassadors have been supplied with unique and exclusive cycling kits created especially for Stockton Cycling Festival by event partners Velo29 and Altura.
Councillor Norma Wilburn, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Arts, Leisure and Culture, said: “The ambassadors are already out there among the groups they cycle with, on the routes they train on and putting the word out through social media that there is a real celebration of all things cycling taking place in Stockton in June.
“Everyone taking part in this scheme has a real passion for cycling so there is no one better placed than these ambassadors to spread the message and get everyone they meet excited about what is set to be a truly exciting sporting occasion in Stockton.
“As well as their good work in starting cycling conversations face-to-face and online, the ambassadors’ special cycling kits help to visually promote Stockton Cycling Festival. The instantly recognisable red, white and blue of the Union Jack flag incorporates the word ‘Stockton’ on the front and ‘Nationals’ on the rear of the jersey.”
Alongside the support of volunteers, businesses in Stockton Borough are getting behind this summer’s festival of cycling. Simon Bailes Peugeot, Thirteen Group and Hewitts Solicitors are all signed up as official event partners.
Simon Bailes, Managing Director of Simon Bailes Peugeot, said: “The Stockton Cycling Festival 2016 hosting the British Cycling National Road Championships is great news for the area and will be a terrific spectacle for all to enjoy.
“We are delighted to work with the Council as a major sponsor of the festival. This is a fantastic opportunity for Stockton to showcase everything good that the town has to offer and I’m sure we will get visitors from outside of the area that will want to make a return visit.
“It’ll also offer loads of opportunities for local people and families to get involved. I know that the town, its people and businesses will come together to make this an event to remember.”
For more information on the Stockton Cycling Festival and the British Cycling National Road Championships, visitwww.stockton.gov.uk/cyclingfestival