Road regulations have been relaxed to make it easier to bring elite cycling events to English roads.
The Government said the move will remove unnecessary regulatory burdens and modernise ‘outdated’ rules on road races. In 2014, one-off regulations were introduced to allow England to host the opening stages of the Tour de France, bringing 2.5 million spectators to Yorkshire.
Cycling minister Robert Goodwill said: ‘These common sense reforms will simplify the process for the holding of races and will make it easier for the best riders in the world to race in England.’
The rules have been developed with the British Cycling and the National Police Chief’s Council, and will see the minimum permitted circuit distance reduced from 10 miles to five miles.