Most retailers on King Street will be open on the day to celebrate British cycling’s showcase event and welcome an influx of up to 10,000 visitors.
Dumfries and Galloway Council is leading locally on the preparations for the Tour’s Scottish Stage Finish, and are providing subsidised buses for people across the region to get to Castle Douglas.
Councillor Colin Smyth, Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Events Champion said;
“The final plans are falling into place to make sure everyone has the opportunity to visit the Tour of Britain in Castle Douglas on Sunday 4 September and have a memorable day out.
The Tour is also a great showcase of course, for cycling and Dumfries and Galloway, and I am confident that our Local Authority investment in the event will be returned ten-fold to the regional economy from visitors spending and the media profile we will attract. There has never been a comparable event in our area for the broadcast coverage we will attract – more than 115 countries worldwide are taking syndicated pictures of the race.”
Caroline Robertson, the owner of Robertson Gemini Garage said;
“We are delighted to promote the Tour of Britain and get into the spirit of the race. Castle Douglas is a wonderful town to visit and enjoy and I’m sure all visitors will have a great impression of our town.”
Michelle Robertson, of the Castle Douglas Development Forum said;
“As the adrenalin builds in the lead up to the race, I’m sure people will enjoy the local food stalls for a bite to eat on the go that the Development Forum is organising at the Market Hill and at the bottom of the Town, near St Andrews Street junction. Local businesses will also be open and embracing the crowds on King Street and serving the many visitors to the town culinary treats.”
Cowan Scott, Owner of NW Tours said;
“The Tour of Britain has grown so much in stature in recent times that more and more of the world’s elite professional road cyclists are being drawn towards it. Not only is the Tour of Britain exciting to witness, it’s also an exciting prospect to see it return to Castle Douglas bigger and better than before.
Having been a keen racing cyclist myself when I grew up in Belgium, a country world renowned for its one day classics. I’ve seen what an event like this can do for tourism and the awareness it can raise. That’s why I see it as a real privilege for my business Scott Country International Ltd. to be able to support the Tour of Britain. It’s great to see other people and businesses in Castle Douglas making a similar effort to support what is an incredible accolade for the town. What makes it all the more remarkable is that Castle Douglas can say it has had the honour more than twice which is something quite special.”
Paul Bush OBE, Director of Events at VisitScotland said;
“The Tour of Britain, which is supported through EventScotland’s International Funding Programme, will bring some of the world’s finest cyclists to Glasgow, East Ayrshire and Dumfries & Galloway, and it’s great to see the whole region getting behind the event.
Castle Douglas is going to be a hive of activity on race day following careful planning to ensure the perfect stage is set for the end of Stage 1. I’m sure thousands of locals and those travelling to view the event from further afield will turn out to welcome the riders home in style.”
The Council has organised buses from most towns in the region to go to Castle Douglas on Sunday 4 September. These are not regular bus services and have to be pre-booked by calling the Council switchboard on 030 3333 3000.
The cost of a return ticket is set at £3 and £2 for concessions. Tickets need to be booked by Wednesday 31 August.
