Can Mansfield come up with the Tour of Britain's best 'land art'?

The OVO Tour of Britain is asking people to come up with land and water art projects as the race powers through the county and finishes in Mansfield.

The national competition to find the Tour of Britain’s best landart was launched at Trent Bridge Cricket ground.

OVO Energy Tour of Britain organisers are calling on Nottinghamshire - and the rest of the UK - to bowl them over with eye-catching land art, water art or unusual displays when the cycle race begins on 2 September – particularly for the penultimate stage which comes to our county on Saturday September 8 and finishes in Mansfield.

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As pupils from West Bidgford Junior School performed their own 'landart' at Trent Bridge, we chatted with Tour of Britain Race Director Mick Bennett about

the race finish at Mansfield.

Stage seven of one of the biggest free-to-attend sporting event in the UK returns to the County, this time starting in West Bridgford, going past the iconic cricket ground, with the stage due to come to a thrilling finale in Mansfield on the same day (8 September)

With millions of viewers from across the world due to tune in to the Tour of Britain race, having land art or water art along or near the route, will increase the chances of being spotted on TV coverage – particularly being picked out by helicopter TV cameras as the 120 world-class riders wind their way through spectacular scenery and landmarks, including the Nottinghamshire leg, which at 223kms, is this year’s longest stage.

Tour of Britain race director Mick Bennett said: "We're coming back to Nottinghamshire because the success of it last year blew everybody away.

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"The response we had at the side of the road from live spectators was second to none.

"We are back this year and we have one of the longest stages.

"We've had a challenge with Mansfield because we didn't want to take it back to the Market Square, we're taking it to a different location a much faster finish.

"You only had a start last year.

"It's one of the longest stages and it will be a stage for sprinters not for the climbers.

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"It's a relatively flat stage and it's quite sinewy as it winds its way through Nottinghamshire and finishes up right outside your council offices."

More than 40 pupils from West Bridgford Junior School pupils formed a bike shape and using giant parachutes as wheels to form ‘landart’ as viewed from the cricket stand. Nottinghamshire County Council leader Kay Cutts said: "We've had one of the local schools out today showing us how to make a bicycle making a bicycle out of themselves and two parachutes which they play with in school.

"We really want everbody to get involved this year with our land art.

A Nottinghamshire farmer caused a sensation when his sheep tuned into bicycle shaped 'land art' for the Tour of Britain.

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Des Allen, Coddington farmer delighted millions of TV viewers with his sheep-inspired landart last year.

Kay Cutts added: "Last year some people came up with some really innovative ideas.

"The sheep caught the world's imagination .

"How on earth do you get sheep to form a bicycle at the right time that the helicopter comes over?

"I would like everybody to join in with tractors or bales or whatever they have on their farms or schools or village hall. Just join in and make something that's fun.

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"The tour of Nottinghamshire is all about everybody having a great big party."

Hayley Barsby Chief executive at Mansfield District Council said: "I'm delighted to be here for the launch of theTour of Britain.

"Mansfield has again been invited to be part of the tour.

"Last year we had the start and this year we are so excited because we did such a good job we have got the finish.

"It is great news for Mansfield it will put us on the map and show what we have to offer for the area."