BUSINESSES all over the county are preparing to take advantage of the Tour of Britain as it rolls into Sussex.
The long stage snakes through Horsham, Haywards Heath and scores of villages along the way, then into East Sussex for Uckfield, Hailsham, Eastbourne and Newhaven.
It is then up the notorious Ditchling Beacon and into the city for a sprint along the Brighton promenade.
Cycling road races, with their panoramic helicopter shots, give routes a PR boost few tourism boards could achieve.
Sights such as the Balcombe Viaduct, Devil’s Dyke and Brighton’s landmarks will be broadcast around the world as Sir Bradley Wiggins and his rivals battle for supremacy.
Every town, village and hamlet is keen to bask in the glory and, based on previous events, it is predicted the stage could give Sussex a £3 million boost.
If the Yorkshire stages of the Tour de France are anything to go by the Sussex stage could surpass all expectations.
The only question mark is whether the promotion for the event will be enough to make it an absolute triumph.
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