Drivers warned of six days of traffic delays across the UK as major cycling tournament begins
PA
Drivers have been warned to expect six days of delays as The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain cycling tournament kicks off affecting major roads.
The cycling event starts tomorrow and will see riders travel through the Scottish borders before heading south across England.
The first stage of the competition will start at 10.30am and cover 113 miles of road until at least 3.30pm. The race will begin along the A698 Coldstream Road and span across the A68, which about 9,200 vehicles use per day, and the A697.
The event's second stage will take place the following day (September 4) between Darlington and Redcar.
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Stage two covers 94 miles of road
BRITISH CYCLING
The race will cover 94 miles of road including a section of the A66 which over 28,000 cars use every day. It starts at 11am and is estimated to finish around 3pm.
The route covers the Cleveland Hills and heads through the North York Moors National Park to the coast at Robin Hood’s Bay.
The third stage of the tournament will take place on roads between Sheffield and Barnsley and will cross over the M1, M18 and A629, impacting 166 miles of road with drivers warned to expect delays as the event gets underway.
Stage four of the competition will impact 86 miles of roads on Friday, September 6 between Derby and Newark, including all of Derby city centre.
Stage three will impact 166 miles of roads near Sheffield
BRITISH CYCLING
The official website said: “For the first time in the 20-year history of the modern race, the city of Derby will welcome the race, with the stage getting underway at 11:00 from outside of the Derby Arena.
“Elvaston, Borrowash, West Hallam and Heanor all feature as the Tour heads through the roads of Derbyshire for the first time since 2015, crossing into Nottinghamshire at Eastwood and continuing through Hucknall, Ravenshead, Blidworth, Southwell and Tuxford, before crossing the River Trent to race south to the finish alongside Sconce and Devon Park in Newark-on-Trent.”
Drivers in Northampton will be impacted by stage five over the weekend, with roads closed in the city to prepare, in addition to the race taking place over the M1 and A14.
The fifth stage of the tournament will start from the University of Northampton and finish at the Guildhall on Northampton’s Derngate racing through the area, including Daventry and nearly 30 villages. The event ends on Sunday, September 8, with the sixth and final stage of the race between Lowestoft and Felixstowe.
Stage four takes place on Friday September 6
BRITISH CYCLING
The race includes 158 miles of road and will get underway from Lowestoft’s seafront before heading to Beccles, Bungay, Halesworth, Framlingham and Saxmundham, before going along the Suffolk coast between Thorpeness and Aldeburgh.
Seamus Bennett from East Suffolk Council said: “The final stage of the Tour of Britain Men will be held entirely in East Suffolk and pass through many of our towns and villages, giving residents, businesses and visitors a unique opportunity to enjoy this amazing international event right on their doorstep.
“I’m really looking forward to joining in myself and warmly invite everyone to come out and get involved, or just watch, cheer and show their support for the race."
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Race concludes between Lowestoft and Felixstowe
BRITISH CYCLING
More than 15 million people watch the event in person every year with the race generating over £330million for the UK economy to date.
In the lead up to the event East Suffolk Council said parking suspension signs will be positioned in areas where on-street parking restrictions will apply this include ‘no waiting’ cones being put in position on Saturday September 7.