News – Countrywide Great Tour launched

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Britain’s ultimate cycling challenge launched, a 64-day circumnavigation of Great Britain’s coastline

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News – Countrywide Great Tour launched

This Summer will see a group of cyclists circumnavigating Great Britain by bicycle, starting and finishing from Holyhead on Anglesey in a 64-day, 6,800-kilometre challenge. Starting on Saturday 4th July, the day the world’s greatest bike race the Tour de France starts, and finishing on Saturday 5th September, the eve of the Friends Life Tour of Britain’s Grand Depart from Anglesey, the Countrywide Great Tour is supported by Countrywide, the UK’s largest and most successful estate agency and property services group.

Commenting on Countrywide’s involvement in The Great Tour, Alison Platt, Chief Executive Officer of Countrywide PLC said; “We are thrilled to support The Great Tour as lead sponsor and are very pleased to strengthen our involvement in supporting the local communities all along the route. We were particularly struck by the opportunity to develop extensive charitable support and as a national organisation thought that we could support the Great Tour around the entire country”

The Countrywide Great Tour is being put on in tandem with CTC, the national cycling charity, who are the experts in helping and supporting thousands of everyday cyclists to realise the joys and benefits of cycling. CTC are supporting the riders with trained ride leaders, insurance and membership package.

“CTC has been helping cyclists ride for leisure and pleasure for over 137 years and is proud to be part of such a stunning cycling event. We want as many people as possible to join us and have a fun and enjoyable time exploring the fantastic riding the coastline of Britain has to offer,” said CTC Chief Executive Officer Paul Tuohy.

Each day of the Countrywide Great Tour will have capacity for up to 250 riders, with a core group of riders completing the entire challenge. Along the way they will be joined by members of the public wishing to ride a day or week of the route, plus riders from corporate and charity partners, using the event to raise funds for good causes.

Among the charities to have already signed up to the Countrywide Great Tour as a fundraising and awareness platform are Leukaemia & Lymphoma Research; Anthony Nolan; Macmillan; and Alzheimer’s Society.

Commenting on the launch, Hugh Roberts, Chief Executive of organisers SweetSpot Group, who personally completed the Great Tour route in 2010 said; “The Countrywide Great Tour is a fantastic challenge. We want to stimulate cycle tourism by creating and formalising a route that circumnavigates Britain’s fantastic coastline, drawing attention to all of the attractions it has to offer”.

“We hope to firmly establish the Countrywide Great Tour as an annual event, providing a platform for charitable fundraising and promoting cycling in each of the communities it touches around the coast.”

Working with partners Ordnance Survey, each day of the Countrywide Great Tour will be mapped and shared using Ordnance Survey products, with an official route app also being published. A ‘club’ will also be created for riders who have completed the entire circumnavigation, whether in one go, or over a prolonged period.

For more information about the Countrywide Great Tour, please visit www.thegreattour.co.uk to find out about all 64-legs of this epic challenge.

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