Councillors in Aberdeen have backed a bid to bring a world-class cycling event to the north-east.
Members of all parties yesterday unanimously supported the aim of bringing the prestigious Tour of Britain event to the north-east next year and 2021.
Under the plans, Aberdeen City and Aberdeenshire Council would make a joint bid for the OVO Energy Tour of Britain allowing top cyclists to race through the north-east.
Featuring more than 120 of the world’s top cyclists each year, the event bringing exposure to international audiences through broadcast coverage in more than 170 countries.
The city has held the smaller-scale tour series event for the past three years, drawing thousands of spectators.
Council co-leader Jenny Laing said: “Events are important to our tourism strategy and an event on this scale could really put the north-east on the map.
“We have seen crowds lining the streets of stages all over the UK and I’m confident the north-east public will turn out in numbers to support the riders, giving the excellent backing that was such a feature of the Tour Series events in recent years.
But during yesterday’s meeting, the opposition Liberal Democrat and SNP groups raised fears that more money would need to be ploughed into repairing potholes ahead of the event.
