An elite pro international cycling event that attracted 10,000 visitors to County Durham is set to return.
Organisers of the Consett Cycling Festival say the event boosted the economy by more than £1 million last year.
The British Cycling Elite Category race was seen by more than 10 million viewers on Eurosport and national TV networks.
Sponsored by Consett regeneration body, Project Genesis Trust, they have now announced that it will be returning on May 31.
It comes as a new campaign is launched to encourage people to visit the area.
John O’Connor, Project Genesis Trust chairman, said: “We built a whole community festival around the cycling, and it was a massive hit with local people and professional cyclists.
“So we’ve decided to make this year’s festival even bigger and better, and we’re already planning a range of events built around the top-class cycling that everyone can enjoy.”
John said they are now looking at ideas to make it another fun-packed event, with the elite races for men and women competitors on Sunday starting and finishing in the town centre.
He added: “We’re also looking at races for young people, more stalls and live music – and it will all be completely free.”
Last year’s festival brought a huge boost to the local economy with more than 1,000 cyclists, supporters and spectators coming into the town centre itself.
Businesses from B&Bs to food outlets, pubs and shops all reaped the benefit.
Feedback from the professional cycling world was highly positive, with many enjoying the challenging Derwentside hills and scenery.
“We’ve already had an enthusiastic response from international teams to this year’s racing,” John said.
The 2020 festival will be a celebration of professional and amateur sport and family fun, but it will also highlight the advantages of visiting Consett and its surrounding area to a wide audience.
John said: “We’ve just launched the Visit Consett website and Facebook page, highlighting our fantastic scenery, cycling and hiking routes and other attractions.
“We’re putting a national and international focus on the area as a beautiful and vibrant place not only to live and work, but to visit and stay, too.
“We feel this year’s Cycle Festival will be the jewel in the crown of our efforts, focusing national and international attention on the area and boosting our visitor numbers.”
Planning for the festival is still in the early stages, and sponsors are also being sought.
“We’d love to hear from anyone with suggestions or sponsorship offers – it’s a great opportunity,” said John.
Richard Holden MP said the event is a great way of putting Consett on the map.
He added: "I am delighted that Consett Cycle Festival will be taking place again this year.
“It was an enormous boost to the local economy last year and I have no doubts that this year it will have an even bigger impact.
"It’s a great way to put Consett on the map and I am really looking forward to attending."
