Britain's professional cyclists descend on Lancashire for Chorley Grand Prix

150 riders will take part in the 116 mile race around the borough.

Author: Victoria GloverPublished 15th Apr 2018

Lancashire is welcoming 150 of Britain's top cyclists to Chorley for the town's annual Grand Prix event.

Hundreds are expected to turn out to cheer on the professionals as they race-off on a 116 mile course around the borough in the opening round of the British Cycling Elite Road Series for 2018.

Chorley Council has teamed up with British Cycling to host the prestigious event for a fourth consecutive year which will see the country’s top riders and teams battle-it-out over a challenging five-lap route through the Chorley countryside, before racing to the finish line on Park Road, close to the entrance to Astley Park.

The race is part of the 2018 HSBC UK Spring Cup series and will be broadcast across Europe on Eurosport.

The circuit starts and finishes on Park Road in Chorley town centre and takes in the sights of Chorley, Limbrick, Rivington, Belmont, Abbey Village, Withnell, Brinscall, Wheelton, Buckshaw Village and back to Chorley.

There will generally be rolling road closures in place from 11am until 4pm, which means traffic will be stopped temporarily while the cyclists pass.

Park Road and part of Queens Road will be closed from 6am until 6pm. Southport Road will be closed for the last lap only and one side of Sheep House Lane and Rivington Road will be closed to west-bound traffic for the day, meaning there will be parking restrictions and diversion routes in place around these areas.

The race will revert back to the original route from 2015 meaning the cyclists will travel along the A6 Shepards Way and onto Lyons Lane before cycling onto Eaves Lane. The race distance is 116 miles or 186.7 kilometres, which is 23.2 miles or 37.3 kilometres per lap.