Archive images show cycling heyday in Blackpool

During the summer, in the latter part of the last century, thousands of cyclists would converge on Blackpool and the Fylde coast to join in events such as the Tour of Lancashire and the Milk Race.

Between 1958 and 1993, The Milk Race was the most prestigious cycling event in the sport’s British calendar, sponsored by the (now disbanded) Milk Marketing Board.

Our wonderful archive photos show the event over the years in the resort - including some of the winners crossing the finishing line.

Hundreds of spectators would gather along the Promenade and Middle Walk to watch the competitors zoom past and cheer them on to the end.

The 1,100-mile-plus multi-stage race was conducted over a number of day races – across a number of locations – and was contested by some of the most successful ever road cyclists.

During the 80s, the resort also played host to regular cycling weekends and festivals – the Blackpool Cycling Weekend is shown in our picture, from 1985.

And the Lancashire Enterprises Tour of Lancashire, is also shown in our archives, which had its final stage in Fleetwood, during the 1980s.

The Mayor and Mayoress of Blackpool are pictured, in May 1989, starting a stage of the Tour of Lancashire.