Communities encouraged to get creative as city gears up to welcome Tour of Britain

Community groups, schools, business and landowners are being encouraged to get involved in a competition to celebrate the arrival of the Tour of Britain in Sunderland this September.

The UK's most prestigious cycling race is set to bring world class sporting action to the streets of Sunderland on Tuesday 6 September as part of stage three of the Tour of Britain.

Local communities along the route can get also involved by taking part in its annual Land Art Competition. The tradition of communities creating land art masterpieces along the route has long been the practice at the Tour of Britain, as well as other cycle races around the world. The Tour has organised a competition to select the best piece of artwork at every edition since 2018, with the winners presented with a trophy and two runners up chosen too.

The Tour's route through Sunderland will take it through parts of Hetton, Houghton, Philadelphia, New Herrington and Middle Herrington before heading down the A690 Durham Road towards the city centre, past Barnes Park and Mowbray Park, finishing at City Hall at the heart of Riverside Sunderland.

Councillor Graeme Miller, Leader of Sunderland City Council, said: "We're really excited to be welcoming the Tour of Britain to Sunderland for the first time this September. The Land Art competition is a brilliant way for community groups, schools and businesses along the route to get involved in some of the excitement surrounding the tour's visit to our city and I have no doubt that our communities will be up for the challenge." 

Tour of Britain Race Director Mick Bennett, said: "The land art competition always brings out the creativity in the communities that we pass through. The entries never cease to bring a smile to our faces, and I am sure that of viewers around the world watching on TV. Over the past three editions we have had some wonderful entries to the competition and I am sure that the standard will be equally high this year."

The winning entry will be decided after the race by a panel comprising race director Mick Bennett, members of the ITV4 broadcast team and staff from race organisers SweetSpot.

Full details of the Tour of Britain land art competition including on how to enter can be found on the race website www.tourofbritain.co.uk/community/land-art/ 

The route the Tour of Britain will be taking through Sunderland is here: https://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/stages/stage-three/