ORGANISERS of a 100-mile charity cycling event have announced a new route for 2019 which skirts around the very edge of the Dudley borough this time round.

The inaugural Vélo Birmingham event proved a big hit with cyclists when it made its debut in 2017 but some residents and traders were furious about road closures along the route, which included main roads in Halesowen and Stourbridge and surrounding country lanes in Worcestershire and South Staffordshire.

The event, however, is set to return in 2019 on Sunday May 12 - rebranded as Vélo Birmingham & Midlands - and organisers have announced an all new route which this time will only just touch the fringes of Halesowen.

Stourbridge News:

Starting and finishing in Birmingham city centre, the 2019 event will take 17,000 cyclists on a closed road route across the West Midlands - taking in Coventry, towns and villages in Warwickshire and Solihull, the National Trust estate of Packwood House, Edgbaston, Kings Norton and Bartley Green Reservoir.

Jon Ridgeon, executive chairman of the event organisers, said: “We are delighted to be able to unveil this hugely exciting route that takes in the very best of the West Midlands and taps into the energy of the 2022 Commonwealth Games."

Stourbridge News:

The route, which can be viewed online at www.velobirmingham.com/the-route/route-map/, has been agreed in partnership with Birmingham, Coventry, Solihull, Warwickshire, Dudley and Sandwell councils plus emergency services and transport operators to try to minimise the impact of road closures which will be in place to help riders stay safe.

Councillor Khurshid Ahmed, Dudley's cabinet member for environmental services, said: "We are working closely with the organisers to make sure the event passes safely and residents are not too inconvenienced.”

He added: "We’re delighted to be able to help host this major cycling event through our borough. It’s an opportunity for people to visit our borough and discover some of the fascinating and unique things we have to offer."

Information leaflets will be distributed to all residential and businesses addresses on and around the route to help people plan ahead, organisers have said - and they are advising anyone who may be affected to visit www.velobirmingham.com/the-route/road-closures to find out road closure timings and how best to navigate around them.

Councillor David Hosell, Sandwell Council’s cabinet member for highways and environment, said: "We are working closely with the team at Vélo Birmingham & Midlands for a successful event that also keeps disruption on our roads to a minimum.”

He added: “It’s a great opportunity for people from Sandwell to get involved in a big event on their doorstep where riders can raise money for good causes."

Stourbridge News:

The event is one of Europe’s biggest cycling events and general entries sold out within a week of opening but riders on the waiting list may be able to secure entry when additional entries go on general sale in the new year.

Alternatively, riders can secure a place with one of the event's official charities – Queen Elizabeth Hospital Charity Birmingham, the NSPCC, Cure Leukaemia and the Alzheimer’s Society.

Prospective participants can also secure a place via the Business 100 entry option and be in with a chance of riding alongside World Cup winning former England Rugby captain Martin Johnson CBE.

Volunteering opportunities are also available for those not able to ride in but keen to be involved with the event.

To find out more about the event visit www.vélobirmingham.com.