Tour of Britain promises enhanced experience for volunteer marshals this year

Organisers of the Tour of Britain, to be held this year from 11-18 September, are looking to improve the experience for the army of volunteers who help staff the race.

The news follows feedback from the 1,000 or so cycling fans who gave up their time to fulfil a range of roles last year, including staffing start and finish venues as well as intermediate mountains and sprint locations.

The formal call for volunteers for this year’s race, which begins in southwest Scotland and ends in Central London will be issued next month at the same time as the full route is announced.

In the meantime, Mick Bennett, Race Director at organisers SweetSpot, said: “Following feedback on the volunteer process in 2010 we have begun a full review of volunteering at The Tour of Britain.

“Volunteers are tremendously important at The Tour of Britain, and all other cycling events in this country, which could not run without their input. We want to make sure than in 2011 their experience is a first-class one and duly rewards them for giving up their time to be a part of Britain’s biggest professional cycle race.

“We are working on improving the information given to people upon volunteering to make the whole process as easy as possible, while also providing every one of our volunteers with a ‘goody bag’ that will leave only positive memories of The Tour.”

Volunteers don’t just get the chance to see some of the world’s top cyclists up close and to be part of a race that continues to raise its profile, they also get a Tour of Britain Goody Bag.

SweetSpot is inviting organisations interested in learning more “about the opportunities surrounding the volunteering process and The Tour of Britain Goody Bags” to get in touch urgently, and you can find contact details on the event website.