Tour de France Champion rides through Littleborough

Photo: Giles Perkins

Bernard Hinault

Five time Tour de France Champion Bernard Hinault rode through Littleborough this past week.

Bernard rode a section of the Tour de France course from Cragg Vale passing through Littleborough.

Bernard was riding as organisers prepared to mark 100 days before riders line up at the starting line in Leeds.

The year’s cycling event will start in England for the first time since 2007. Roughly 1km of the race will pass through Littleborough on Sunday 6 July. It is anticipated that riders will pass through the town, along the B6138 and the A58, adjacent to Blackstone Edge Reservoir at approximately 1pm.

Littlelborough is the only area in Greater Manchester to be hosting the English leg of the race. The event will mostly take place in Yorkshire but it is expected that thousands of spectators will visit Litteborough as rider’s race through.

Littleborough is currently gearing up for the event, with many events being organised and preperations being made. Nigel Stanley of Annis Hill Farm said: “I imagine this will be one of the first few big names that we see in the area now. Littleborough is expecting thousands of people that weekend so we are really getting geared up.”

http://www.rochdaleonline.co.uk/news-features/2/newsheadlines/85778/pennine-township-geared-up-for-the-tour-de-france