Velo cycle spectacle to return on a new date

BIRMINGHAM’S Velo cycling event is to return in 2020 on a different date, say organisers.

Velo Birmingham & Midlands will be back on Sunday, June 28, 2020.

Following a “hugely successful 2019 event”, they are expecting 2020’s 100-mile, closed-road cycle sportive to be the biggest to date.

One of Europe’s largest cycling events, Velo Birmingham & Midlands 2020 will see up to 18,000 riders of all abilities go on a journey through the West Midlands in front of tens of thousands of spectators.

The event will again feature a 100-mile fully closed route that starts and finishes in Birmingham and takes riders through Coventry city centre and the Midlands countryside.

Richard Relton, CEO of the Velo Series, said: “We are delighted to have secured a brand new summertime date for the third edition of Velo Birmingham & Midlands.

“The 2019 event was a huge success and we’re looking forward to returning in exactly one year’s time with an even bigger and more inclusive event.

“Velo Birmingham & Midlands is now one of the Midlands’ biggest annual sporting events and we’re committed to growing and improving it year on year.”

City council leader Cllr Ian Ward said: “Velo Birmingham & Midlands is an incredibly important event for Birmingham and the Midlands.

“In addition to the economic impact it delivers to the region, the event is vitally important in helping us promote cycling as a more environmentally sustainable mode of transport within the city.

“With the Commonwealth Games on the horizon, I hope the people of the Midlands feel inspired to take on this fantastic two-wheeled challenge.”

Velo Birmingham is the only mass participation cycling event in the world that features two major cities as part of its route.

Following the success of the 42-mile shorter version route in 2019, organisers will unveil details of its 2020 equivalent early next year.

Coventry – the UK’s City of Culture 2021 – will again be the finish location of the shorter route.

Entries are not open yet, but prospective participants can pre-register on the event website.