CYCLING is proving to be a big boost for the local economy, with the Tour of Britain stages and Pearl Izumi Tour Series bringing tourists and business into the area.

A report on the benefits of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series race held in Barrow on May 29 found that the influx of cycling fans saw the pounds roll in.

This year, Cumbria saw a net economic boost of £171,960 from the BAE Systems Barrow round of the Tour Series as an estimated crowd of 14,000 attended the event and spent money in the town.

The two most popular spending areas were general shopping and food and drink, but money was also spent on petrol, parking, taxis and accommodation.

The net economic boost this year was 47 per cent higher than the £116,770 shown for the same event in Barrow in 2014.


Councillor David Southward Councillor David Southward, Cumbria County Council’s cabinet member responsible for economic development, said: “The Tour Series is a lot smaller and more focused than the Tour of Britain, but nevertheless it has been a great way of boosting the local economy.

“A 47 per cent increase in the net economic boost is a fantastic result.

“The town of Barrow should be congratulated on the way it got behind the event this year – and that was helped enormously by the backing of BAE Systems as the main local employer and also by the North West Evening Mail.

“I hope the economic benefits we will see from holding two stages of the Tour of Britain this month can show a similar uplift when the figures come out later this year.”

The Barrow race was televised in the UK on ITV4 and across 60 major international territories on British Eurosport. The ITV4 TV audience alone was 203,000 viewers.

The report also found that 72 per cent of people watching the race came from outside Barrow, 14 per cent of whom stayed overnight.

Eight in ten people who attended the event said they felt inspired to cycle more often after watching the race.