George Osborne MP visits Knutsford's home of the Penny Farthing ahead of the Tour of Britain

Mr Osborne visited organisers of ‘CycleFest’ and members of Knutsford Town Council at The Courtyard Coffee House, known locally as the Penny Farthing, on Wednesday August 10.

The Tour of Britain race kicks off on the September 4 and is made up of eight stages. On Tuesday, September 6, the road cycling race will pass through Knutsford twice on the way to the finish line in Tatton Park.

To celebrate the event, the Cheshire East Council has painted 160 bikes bright orange to decorate the route, and retailers group Knutsford One has organised a trail of orange bikes donated by businesses and residents.

Mr Osborne said: “I am so proud that Cheshire East is hosting the third stage of this prestigious cycling race and preparations are well underway across my constituency to celebrate.

“The whole community is coming together to mark the event and I have lost count of the number of orange bikes I’ve seen in our towns and villages.”

The café is home to the Penny Farthing museum, and was the perfect backdrop for the Tour of Britain meeting as the rise of the Penny Farthing marked the birth of cycling as a popular sport in Great Britain.

Ian Lloyd-Simons, Manager of The Courtyard Knutsford, said, “We’re thrilled that Knutsford is going to be part of Britain’s biggest road cycling race.

“As the home of the Penny Farthing museum this is an historic place for cycling and the whole town is getting behind the event to celebrate.

“As the cyclists pass through during the third stage of the race we’re sure the crowds will line the streets and get behind the competitors to cheer them on.

“Those watching the race in Knutsford can learn about the history of the sport in the Penny Farthing museum, which includes over 20 original models and offers a unique snapshot in time. Of course, guests can also sample the home cooked food off our delicious menu for the perfect accompaniment to the cycling event.”