OVO Tour of Britain 2019 - competition and flags for schools!

Following a successful four-year run in hosting the OVO Energy Women's Tour, we are delighted to announce that the OVO Energy Tour of Britain will be coming back to Warwickshire in September 2019!

Warwickshire will host the seventh-stage of the OVO Tour of Britain on Friday 13th September, welcoming the world's top teams and riders for a second year running. 

The penultimate stage of the race will see riders racing from Warwick town centre to the hill-top finish at Burton Dassett Country Park over a 186.5km (116-mile) route. The riders will pass through the University of Warwick, Kenilworth, Meriden (home to the National Cyclists’ Memorial), Atherstone, Bedworth, Brinklow, Cawston, Dunchurch and Wellesbourne. Action is guaranteed on the climb of Sun Rising Hill, as the stage ends with a 12km finishing circuit involving three ascents of Burton Dassett Hills.

To celebrate these elite cyclists coming through our county, and to build on the legacy of inclusive cycling, we are encouraging schools and colleges to engage in the event in a number of ways. 

Competition!!!

Warwickshire pupils are invited to submit their own creative designs for the Warwickshire stage start flag and the overall Warwickshire stage winners trophy, with the winning designs being made up for official use on race day.

• Stage winners trophy competition - designs should be drawn in the shape of Warwickshire and fit within the lines on the attached template. The winning design will be put on the Stage 7 winners trophy and the pupil will be invited to present the trophy to the winner.

• Start flag competition - designs should be submitted on the back of the attached form. The winning design will be used to create the large starting flag for the race on 13 September and the winner will be invited to present the flag to the starter of the Warwickshire stage on race day.

Completed entries should include the name of the child, age and school or college they attend on the back and be returned by Tuesday 20 August 2019 to: 

Aaron Corsi, Warwickshire County Council, Infrastructure & Sustainable Communities, PO Box 43, Shire Hall, Warwick, CV34 4SX

Above is Oscar Morley, a pupil at St Margarets C of E Junior School, Whitnash who won this year’s Women’s Tour Start Flag Competition.

Engagement opportunities and flags

Over the coming months we will release more information for engagement opportunities but key things to consider at this stage are:

• Will you be arranging to view the races live?
• Where will you watch the races?
• If you will be watching the races, will you want flags to wave? If so, how many?

For more information, clarification or if you would like to let us know how many flags you require then please contact Aaron Corsi, email aaroncorsi@warwickshire.gov.uk or tel: 01926 412963. 

You can also find more information about the race, including the proposed route* here: https://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/stages/stage-seven

*The route is subject to change and road-by-road stage timetables will be published in August.