Pedal power Stage is set for Tour of Britain’s arrival in the county
STAGE six of the Tour of Britain will come to the county next week with road closures planned to allow the race to go ahead safely.
On Friday, September 9, the 170.9km race will begin in front of St Mary’s Abbey Church on Church Street, Tewkesbury, and head east into the Cotswolds before heading south. The riders will then race north through the Stroud valleys before finishing on Southgate Street in Gloucester.
In addition to Tewkesbury and Gloucester, the riders will race through Winchcombe, Cirencester, Tetbury, Wotton-under-edge, Dursley and Stroud, showcasing some of the best scenery the county has to offer in front of a global television audience.
Residents are encouraged to cheer the riders on at the roadside as it passes by their doorstep. Anyone wanting to view the race are advised to allow plenty of time for their journey, and to use active travel and public transport where possible.
Those driving to the race should ensure they are parked legally.
In addition, all spectators should watch from a safe position and not on the road itself.
The race will start in Tewkesbury at 11am with events in the town before the start, and is estimated to finish in Gloucester at around 3pm.
To minimise disruption to communities, most of the race will operate a rolling road closure. This means roads will only be closed for around 30 minutes while the race passes through.
Full road closures will be in operation at the start in Tewkesbury and the finish in Gloucester.
Tewkesbury - all the below road closures will be in place from 0:01 to 14:00
Post Office Lane - Full road closure along its entire length
St Marys Lane - Full road closure from Church Street to Church Street
St Marys Road - Full road closure from Mill Street to St Marys Lane
Mill Street - Full road closure from Church Street to St Marys Road
Gander Lane - Full road closure from Church Street to Swilgate Road
Church Street - Full road closure from Barton Street to Gloucester Road
Gloucester - all the below road closures will be in place from 0:01 to 23:59
Severn Road - Full road closure from Commercial Road to Llanthony Road
The Quay - Full road closure from Commercial Road to Westgate Street
Ladybellgate Street - Full road closure from Longsmith Street to Commercial Road
Longsmith Street - Full road closure from Southgate Street to Ladybellgate Street
Commercial Road - Full road closure from Kimbrose Way to Southgate Street
Southgate Street - Full road closure from Kimbrose Way to Longsmith Street
Parliament Street - Full road closure from Southgate Street to Brunswick Road
Commercial Road - Full road closure from Kimbrose Way to The Quay
Kimbrose Way - Full road closure from Southgate Street to Commercial Road
Llanthony Road - Full road closure from Southgate Street to Severn Road
Spa Road - Full road closure from Southgate Street to Brunswick Road
The Tour of Britain comes to the county just months after the Women’s Tour raced from Tewkesbury to Gloucester, via the Forest of Dean.
The race will be broadcast live on ITV4 in the UK and around the world by Eurosport and the Global Cycling Network (GCN), with an hour-long highlights show on ITV4.
Councillor David Gray, cabinet member responsible for the environment at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “The Tour of Britain will put the spotlight on Gloucestershire and showcase our fantastic county on the national and global stage.
“We apologise for any inconvenience caused by the related road closures, but would encourage residents across the county to take the opportunity to watch as some of the world’s best cyclists race through our county.”
More information on the Tour of Britain in Gloucestershire, including stage timetables for when the race will be in your area, can be found online at gloucestershire.gov.uk/transport/ cycling/womens-tour-and-tour-ofbritain-in-gloucestershire/