First Annual Consett Cycling Festival A Huge Success

Over two hundred top cyclists took part in a race which began and finished on Front Street Consett yesterday (Sunday 23rd June) to race in the ‘Tour of the Reservoir‘ a long-established pro-cycle race which, for the first time came to Consett’s town centre.

Organisers said this year’s race was a trial run for the event to become a regular sporting fixture for the town. The success of the race means it’s almost certain the race will become an annual event for Consett, Co.Durham.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R0_YaiYRHLc]

Men’s Start on Front Street Consett, Video courtesy of “Mainframe” via Youtube.

The cycle race was televised on EuroSport which has an average of 1.5 million^ people tuned into the channel daily.

Consett Town Centre became a hustling exciting hub for cycling fans and families alike.

[youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0UNjjcBlPNA]

Men’s Finish on Front Street Consett, Video courtesy of “Mainframe” via Youtube.

While the Men’s and Women’s cycling races were the main events on the day there were also many shows, performances, and even a food market which brought Consett to life with a vibrant atmosphere for everyone who attended.

The event was organised to celebrate the recovery of the town of Consett from the loss of its steelworks in 1980 – a blow from which many said it would never recover.

Project Genesis Chair, John O’Connor said,

“Next year marks the 40th anniversary of the closure of our steelworks, and while it was devastating, it didn’t prove fatal. What this town will do in June is give itself a pat on the back and have a party. The town and the fantastic people here deserve it and we’re delighted this prestigious bike race will be part of it.”

The party started with the women’s event, setting off at 9.00 am, circling through the town, and then heading off into the spectacular Durham countryside, before returning for the finish 71 miles later, back into Consett town centre. The men’s race, over 110 miles on a similar course,  began at 1.30 pm.

James Shaw (Instagram: @jamesshaw96) won stage 2 of the Tour of the Reservoir and with it the overall GC!

 

View this post on Instagram

 

@leah_dixie on her way to stage 2 win of the #tourofthereservoir

A post shared by Paul Elliott-Kowalczyk (@paulelliott.kowalczyk) on

Leah Dixon (Instagram: @Leah_Dixie) was the Women’s winner of the stage 2 Tour of the Reservoir race on Sunday.

Local road closures in and around the town centre were in force on the day and free ‘unlimited time’ parking was available at Hermiston Retail Park (and in Morrison’s and Tesco’s).

If you have any comments, videos or photographs of the cycle race or the festivities which took place in Consett Town Centre on Sunday please share a link below in the comments, we’d love to see the event from your perspective.

^ Eurosport audience data according to 2017 figures provided by TV News and Research website “Advanced Television“.


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Barry Kirkham
Barry likes to write about science and technology. If you've got an idea for a story, please visit the submit content page.

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