The final route has been announced by organisers for the Tour of Britain when it comes to Bath and North East Somerset at the start of September.
Bath & North East Somerset Council will host a stage finish of the Tour, Britain’s premier cycling race, for the very first time on Thursday 8th September.
Stage Five will begin in Aberdare at 11am and is expected to arrive in Bath and North East Somerset at around 3.30pm, having crossed South Wales and Gloucestershire.
Around 120 of the world’s top professional cyclists will be racing on the A431 through Kelston and onto Newbridge Hill, cycling across the top of Chelsea Road and down onto Upper Bristol Road.
From there they will go past Windsor Bridge and Royal Victoria Park’s children’s play area before sweeping left up Marlborough Lane and on to the finish line on Royal Avenue, at around 3.30pm.
Visitors and residents are being encouraged to come along to the Cycle village on Royal Avenue, which will be open from 10am – 4pm and include giant screens showing the race live from 1pm.
The Council is in contact with schools and pre-schools across Bath and North East Somerset, inviting them to join in the fun of the cycle village and watch professional cyclists in action.
Timings are approximate at the moment – more details will be communicated nearer the time.
Bath & North East Somerset Council is currently talking to the RUH, local schools, and businesses about the event, and will be contacting any affected local residents with further details.
Councillor Martin Veal (Conservative, Bathavon North), Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “We’re looking forward to welcoming the thousands of spectators to see the professional cyclists race through our area, finishing at the iconic Royal Avenue in front of the Royal Crescent. This will be shown live on ITV4 and around the world.
“This is a fantastic opportunity for local residents of all ages to see top class cyclists in action and be inspired by them, and a great opportunity for local businesses too.”
Tour of Britain Race Director Mick Bennett said: “Having hosted a start of the Tour of Britain and last year’s final round of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series, we are pleased this year to be working with Bath & North East Somerset Council to bring a stage finish to the historic city of Bath for the first time in the modern race.
“It begins the first of three days of racing in the South West of England that we know will appeal to the number of cycling and sports fans in the area, and what better way to start this than by racing into as iconic a location as Bath.”
To welcome the Tour to the area, Bath & North East Somerset Council is also organising a Summer of Cycling aimed at encouraging local residents, young and old, to get involved.
This is being supported by the headline sponsors for the Bath stage of the Tour, Bristol Airport and KLM.
To find out more about any of these events, up to date race schedules and more information on The Tour of Britain visit www.bathnes.gov.uk/tourofbritain.
