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BAE Systems to sponsor prestigious national cycling event

18 Jul 2018
Tour of Britain - 2017 image

BAE Systems is delighted to announce it will be a main sponsor at this year's prestigious Tour of Britain cycle race.

The sixth stage of the race, on Friday, September 7, will start in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria – home to BAE Systems' submarine site, where the Astute and Dreadnought class submarines are being designed and built.

 

Race organisers expect more than 20,000 spectators to descend on Barrow for the start of the race. From Barrow, the riders will cycle through Ulverston, Whitehaven and Workington, before finishing at Whinlatter in the picturesque Cumbrian Lake District.


Employing nearly 9,000 people, the majority of whom live local to its Barrow site, BAE Systems Submarines has strong links with its local community.


Cliff Robson, BAE Systems Submarines Managing Director, said: "We are delighted to be supporting such a prestigious national sporting event, taking place right here in the heart of our community.

 

"There can't be many places more challenging or beautiful to cycle than Cumbria, so it's great the tour organisers have picked Barrow as the starting point for one of the stages.
 
"I'm sure the community will be out in force to support the race, making it a memorable day for the town and visitors alike."
 
Cumbria County Council will host the Cumbria leg of the Tour of Britain, which also features a fifth stage from Cockermouth to Whinlatter, on Thursday, September 6.

Councillor Keith Little, Cumbria County Council Cabinet member for Transport, said: “This is fantastic news and we’re thrilled that Cumbria has been chosen for two stages of the Tour of Britain. Nowhere else in the country has been given this honour before and it’s a real coup for Cumbria.

“This is a huge opportunity for us to make the most of this from a tourist and economic perspective, and also to get even more people interested and enthused about cycling.

"We’ll be working with our district partners, schools, Cumbria Tourism, Lake District National Park, Forestry Commission, BAE Systems, United Utilities and also local businesses to make the most of this fantastic opportunity.”