100-mile cycle spectacle Vélo set to return in May Business owners are urged to plan ahead for one-day event
FULL details of the 2019 Vélo Birmingham and Midlands cycling event have been revealed.
Organisers confirmed the specifics of the closed-road, 100-mile sportive including all of the areas which will be affected by the event.
The Vélo first came to the West Midlands in September 2017 but will return next year for a late spring event on Sunday, May 12.
Around 17,000 cyclists are expected to take part, raising millions for charity, while corporate teams are invited to sign up for the Business 100 challenge.
Residents and business owners are being warned by organisers now to plan ahead for the one-day event which will see road closures across the route which takes in many parts of the West Midlands.
It will also pass through Coventry city centre and its iconic cathedral, marking part of its status as European City of Sport for 2019.
In a change from last year’s route, the ride will start south of Birmingham city centre near St Andrew’s football stadium and finish in Sherlock Street from where riders will be directed to the event village close to Bullring shopping centre.
Among the towns and villages to be included on the 2019 route are Coleshill, Hurley and Fillongley in Warwickshire and Meriden and Bentley Heath in Solihull.
The National Trust estate of Packwood House and Bartley Green Reservoir are among the other locations to feature on the new-look course.
A team will be pro-actively calling all businesses on and close to the route to raise awareness of the closures and find solutions to any access issues that arise.
Access for emergency services will be unaffected throughout and will be prioritised during the event and a hotline will be open on the day to help people who are trapped by all the closures and diversions.
Anyone potentially affected by the road closures is advised to visit the Vélo Birmingham and Midlands website for full details of the route.
General entries sold out within a week of opening but organisers said an additional allocation of entries would go on sale in the new year to those on the waiting list.
Official charities for the 2019 ride are Queen Elizabeth Hospital Charity Birmingham, NSPCC, Cure Leukaemia and Alzheimer’s Society.