Staffordshire welcomes second Commonwealth Games event

Staffordshire is welcoming its second Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games event after it was announced today that the cycling time trial event will run through part of the county.

The men’s and women’s time trial events will take place on Thursday August 4. Each will start and finish at West Park in Wolverhampton and will also take in Dudley Borough, before a short stretch through South Staffordshire.

Approximately 30 women and 60 men will take part, each representing one of the 72 nations and territories that are planning to send teams to the Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games. People will be able to watch the event for free along the route.

The South Staffordshire section will see cyclists enter the county on the B4176 Dudley Road to Himley, before turning north along the A449 Stourbridge Road, skirting the edge of Wombourne. They will then head back towards Wolverhampton along the A463 Wodehouse Lane.

The time trial event is the second of the Games to take place in Staffordshire, with the world’s best mountain bikers competing on the trails of Cannock Chase.  Details of the time trial course were announced by the Games’ organisers in Birmingham city centre today.

Staffordshire County Council’s cabinet member for communities and culture, Victoria Wilson said:

“The Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games will be a huge event for our region and we’re proud to be hosting part of a second event here in Staffordshire.

“The cycling time trial event in August will bring some of the finest athletes in the world to our county, which is great news and I’d encourage communities to get involved.

“This will help to showcase the superb rural scenery in Staffordshire on the short stretch before heading back towards the city. We’re also hosting the mountain biking event on Cannock Chase, so Staffordshire is undoubtedly making its mark on the games and to a worldwide audience. We’ll be working with colleagues at the district council and with the event organisers to ensure it runs as smoothly as possible.”

Roger Lees, leader of South Staffordshire Council, said:

“We look forward to welcoming elite athletes from around the world to our district next year. It’s fantastic news that the cycling time trial event takes in a part of South Staffordshire – offering a lifetime opportunity for our residents and communities to experience a global sporting event on their doorsteps.

“I’d encourage as many people as possible to come and support the event as it passes through the beautiful villages of Penn Common, Gospel End, Wombourne and Himley. We will of course keep residents and businesses up to date with the latest information in the lead-up to the time trial.

“Birmingham 2022 Commonwealth Games promises to be a truly memorable experience, helping us to raise our profile as a district and inspiring our communities through sport and by playing our part in a major event.”