Residents and businesses in Lincolnshire are being urged to “get your flags out” for the upcoming Tour of Britain cycle race.

People living along the route are being encouraged to decorate their homes, gardens and communities to help create a memorable atmosphere for one of the UK's biggest public sporting events.

“Give riders a true Lincolnshire welcome when the race arrives on September 3,” a spokesperson for Lincolnshire County Council (LCC) said. “Think postbox toppers, Union or Lincolnshire flags and bunting, cycling-themed displays and cardboard signs. Get your creative side out, help make the event a real spectacle and showcase your area.”

Local businesses can also take part through a special initiative that will see green bicycles displayed across the county in the lead-up to the event. The bicycles were taken from LCC’s Household Waste Recycling Centres and given a new lease of life. Lindum Group collected, transported and stored the bicycles, while Siemens transformed them with a fresh Lincolnshire green paint job ready for display at businesses and community venues.

(Inset) Bikes are being sprayed green to display along the race route. Main image: The Tour of Britain Men's Race (Getty).

placeholder image — (Inset) Bikes are being sprayed green to display along the race route. Main image: The Tour of Britain Men's Race (Getty).

Businesses taking part will receive a green bicycle, Lincolnshire flag bunting and Tour of Britain posters to help promote and decorate for the race days.

Any businesses interested in receiving a bicycle and display pack can visit the Visit Lincolnshire business website where they can also download promotional resources.

Coun Natalie Oliver, Executive Councillor for Culture at LCC, said: "The Tour of Britain is a fantastic opportunity to showcase Lincolnshire to millions of people across the world, and we'd love to see our communities right across the route give riders a warm and colourful welcome.

"Whether you're displaying Union Flags and Lincolnshire flags outside your home, decorating your street with bunting or cheering from the roadside, every show of support will help create a fantastic atmosphere and demonstrate the pride we have in our county.

Bike's being sprayed green for display along the race route

"To help that effort, we’ve worked with Lindum Group and Siemens to help local businesses decorate and become part of the celebrations, and I hope as many people and businesses as possible will get involved and help make Lincolnshire’s stages of the Tour of Britain one to remember.”

Phillip Hatherly, Head of Modernisation and Upgrades at Siemens Energy, said: “Siemens Energy is proud to give back to the Lincoln community.

“The incredible effort of our volunteers shows what can be achieved when people come together for a shared purpose. We look forward to celebrating the Tour of Britain and Lincoln’s fantastic community spirit.”

Edward Chambers, Co-Chair of Lindum Group, said: “We were delighted to support the Green Display Bike Project and play a small part in helping bring the Tour of Britain celebrations to life in Lincoln.

The Siemens team have been spraying unused bikes green ahead of the Tour of Britain event.

“Our team at Lindum Waste Recycling in Saxilby provided skips and transport to help move 118 bikes from the Lincoln tip to Siemens, where they were given a new lease of life with their green makeover.

"It’s great to see materials that might otherwise have gone to waste being transformed for visitors to enjoy and we're pleased to have supported the project.”