CYCLE RACING is set to return to Victoria Park as part of a big build-up to the Tour of Britain Cycle Race in September.

The sportKeighley organisation is putting together plans to make the professional tour event - the biggest cycle race in the British sporting calendar - into a sporting highlight of the year.

The sportKarnival which took cycling as a major theme this year proved a big success and encouraged organisers to go ahead with the new event.

"Apparently cycle racing took part in Victoria Park years ago and we will be recreating those events," said organiser John Dennis.

The main event will consist of a 'Prologue' race using a circuit in the park.

Several other events connected with cycling are also being planned for the Victoria Park site as part of the build-up to the race.

"The event will be in the school holidays and we plan to encourage as many youngsters as possible to come down with their bikes and take part before welcoming the Tour of Britain Race to Keighley," he said.

Major cycle team sponsors are being invited to take part in the event by providing promotional displays and events.

Riders in the Tour of Britain will include many who are currently fighting it out in the Tour de France and in the UK they will race for six days beginning in Glasgow city centre on August 30. They will continue to race through England before a finish in central London on Sunday September 4.

One of the final events will be a criterium race around the London's city centre with rider's racing past landmarks such as Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and The Houses of Parliament.

They will pass through Keighley on Thursday, September 1, after starting out from Leeds Town Hall. They will travel through Ilkley before heading over the moors and racing through Keighley with a 'King of the Mountains' climb through Oxenhope.

"I want to hear from anyone else who has any ideas to make the event a big success and give cycling in this area a big boost," John Dennis said.

Anyone with any ideas, or to get involved in the event can contact John Dennis on 07919-477-861.