ELITE cyclists are to take to Nottingham's streets for the second time in a month, as the city prepares to host another major cycling event.
Experian Cycle Live features three days of cycling festivities at Victoria Embankment, starting on Friday and concluding with the annual Great Notts Bike Ride on Sunday.
The event comes just a few weeks after the city centre staged the comeback of the iconic Milk Race after 20 years last month.
Perfect Motion, organiser of Experian Cycle Live, who also helped run the Milk Race, said it had noticed an increase in interest in cycling since last summer's London Olympics. Chris Simon, director of the Beestion organisation, said: "The turnout and support for the Milk Race was fantastic and entries for the Great Notts Bike Ride on the Sunday are up by a third compared to this time last year. Entries for the 50 and 100-mile rides are expected to close very soon so we are encouraging people not to wait until the day to register."
Experian Cycle Live will kick off with the Nottingham Grand Prix at 6pm on Friday. The road race will feature some of the country's top riders – including a team from Raleigh. The event will also feature regional and youth races, along with a corporate relay race with teams from Experian, BioCity, and the Nottingham.
Riders in the corporate relay will come up against Cycle Live's very own team, led by double Olympic medallist Bryan Steel.
Nottingham City Council leader Councillor Jon Collins will also be part of the team.
Mr Steel said: "The elite riders in the national B race are of a very high standard and they will be fighting hard for the top spots. It will be a fantastic spectacle."
Mr Simon added: "Anyone who liked watching the racing at the Milk Race will enjoy the action at the Nottingham Grand Prix.
"It will be a high class of racing, and there will also be plenty to do and see all evening at our event village on the Victoria Embankment."
The event is free to watch.
A family-friendly Nottingham City Ride will also take place on Saturday with entertainment planned at the Embankment between noon and 5pm, with routes of either 2.5, 7.5 or 10.5 miles.
At the heart of the festival village there will be an arena where visitors will be able to try a variety of alternative bikes.
A folding bike race is also planned.
The 32nd running of the Great Notts Bike Ride will then take place on Sunday.
More than 4,000 people are expected to take part in this year's ride, which features 25, 50 and 100-mile routes.
The arena will be open between 7am and 6pm.
For more details on Experian Cycle Live, or to enter the Great Notts Bike Ride or Nottingham City Ride, go to www.cyclelivenottingham.co.uk.
