July has just got to be the top month of the year for the cycle racing spectator.

There are three weeks of the Tour de France starting on Saturday which will be shown daily on Eurosport and ITV4 and there is plenty of live action in Lancashire at the same time.

The Tour interest will inevitably focus on the return of seven-time winner Lance Armstrong with four-stage winner last year, Mark Cavendish, looking to beat that record.

Locally, after last night’s Town Centre events in Rochdale, the action moves tomorrow to Blackpool, where a full weekend of racing is scheduled. On the promenade tomorrow are Ladies (7pm) and Mens (8pm) circuit races, with events for younger riders on Saturday and the 100-mile Tour of Blackpool on Sunday.

This will cover roads around Kirkham and The Fylde with the finish on the promenade at around 12-30 pm.

Our local professional, Ian Wilkinson, who was a member of the winning Halfords-Bikehut team in the televised town centre events, is down to ride on both Friday and Sunday.

The Colne town centre races are back again on Wednesday July 15, and the Blackburn version one week later on the 22nd.

The North Lancs Road Club clocked up two team wins to their credit on Saturday.

The 100-mile at Keswick had Neil Cooper third overall with four hours 8 minutes 39 seconds, backed by Ian Cox (4-09-41) and Martyn Wilcox (4-19-20) to win the team award.

However, the best East Lancashire performance came from Peter Greenwood of Clayton Velo, who took second overall in 4-05-49, against the winning time of Bolton’s Paul Shalliker who set the standard of 3-57-51 for the new course.

At Garstang, in the Preston Cycling Club 10 mile, the three Road Club Team counters were Stan Riley (23-07), Dave McDonough (23-09) and Bob Matthews (23-11).

The Rossendale 10-mile at Hapton resulted in a new course record from winner Duncan Park, who shaved a handful of seconds to 23-21, beating Paul Warrener (23-34), Rob Dickinson (24-19) and Roy Flanagan (25-27).

Park was also fastest in the Edisford 10 mile in 23-07, beating Warrener’s 23-17 with Ian Stott (23-46) and Ian Cox (24-09).

The Pendle Forest Club have been holding 10 miles events most Thursdays this year but held a one-off Gisburn Climber time trial which finished at the top of the 1,000 foot climb from Gisburn near the Moorcock Inn.

Rossendale’s Paul Warrener was fastest with 34 minutes 11 seconds followed by Nathan Smedley (35-10), Craig Holden (36-39) and Dave Metcalfe (37-32).