Tour of Britain Race Manual

[anonymous-user]

here

useful for route planning and timings.

[Dan Friel]

Many thanks!

[Some Gump]

Newbie looking for advice...

I've looked at the route, and i think that my best bet is to catch stage 4. Where is the best to watch? I'm guessing a climb maybe?
If that is the case, the irst climb is 70 miles from my door - so doable, ish. Wht time do i need to think of getting there? Will i need to be uber early to get a spot?

Also, if i do go, i'd like to join in the tradition of drawing a nice big smiley on the road. What is the accepted way to do this? Chalk?
Thanks in advance,
Gump

[anonymous-user]

The ToB uses rolling road closures approx 15-20 minutes before race is due past, maybe a bit longer, parking on road side is ok if it's on the verge and facing oncoming traffic but parking a few minutes walk from the race route is easier and means you can get away a bit quicker too. Climbs are good because they woll probably be spread out and there will almost certainly be a breakaway group out in front. Cycling news website will have a live feed so if you have a smartphone you can keep track of what's happening.

Chalk works well, jumbo sticks can be bought cheaply from stationers etc and are enough for a PH smiley! you could probably get away with using spray paint providing its not in front of someone's house....

[Some Gump]

Thanks Pablo.
I'm planning on riding there and back, my journey is 8 miles shorter if i go up the route, not round it. If i aim for an hour ahead, i'm guessing it should be ok maybe?
It'd also be cool to do the actual climb the pros will do later, just to put into context my dreadful climbing prowess.

Looking at the forecast, the wind will be 14 mp against all day, doesn't look good for the brreakaway (or me!)

[Eddh]

Anyone fancy a cycle up to the Brecon Breacons?

[TSCfree]

Cheers for that Pablo, I'm toying with the idea of camping(weather permitting!) somewhere on the Honister Pass Sunday and watching the tour roll past on Monday. May even plan in a cheeky loop around Buttermere/Dewent on Sun!

Edited by TSCfree on Tuesday 10th September 23:44

[cupofbeans]

Thanks for that. The official site is hopeless. Thinking of going to Drumlanrig on Sunday for the finish.

[Steve vRS]

TSCfree said:

Cheers for that Pablo, I'm toying with the idea of camping(weather permitting!) somewhere on the Honister Pass Sunday and watching the tour roll past on Monday. May even plan in a cheeky loop around Buttermere/Dewent on Sun!

Edited by TSCfree on Tuesday 10th September 23:44

Have you seen the weather forecast for Sunday?

I am thinking of visiting my parents on Sunday who live in Whitehaven and cycling the West Cumbria bits before the pros get there. Just to set them some Strava times to aim for

Steve

[TSCfree]

Steve vRS said:

TSCfree said:

Cheers for that Pablo, I'm toying with the idea of camping (weather permitting!) somewhere on the Honister Pass Sunday and watching the tour roll past on Monday. May even plan in a cheeky loop around Buttermere/Dewent on Sun!

Edited by TSCfree on Tuesday 10th September 23:44

Have you seen the weather forecast for Sunday?

I am thinking of visiting my parents on Sunday who live in Whitehaven and cycling the West Cumbria bits before the pros get there. Just to set them some Strava times to aim for

Steve

Well that's changed since last night...not ideal. Might be ride Sat, pub Sun....Watch nutters ride up Honister Pass Mon in 20MPH winds

[y2blade]

pablo said:

here

useful for route planning and timings.

Awesome, thank you.

[Jonnny]

Excellent, thanks!

Hoping to get to two places on the route, including the final spring up Guildford High Street.

[Samcat]

Blimey it passes not 1/2 mile from here, I think I might make an effort to go and have a look.

[y2blade]

Anyone watching the live coverage on Eurosport2 HD? it looks a bit windy

[mcelliott]

It does look a tad windy! Got to feel for the organisers of the race with the weather being so crap, I think it definitely stifles the enthusiasm of the riders. The weather's going to be similar for tomorrow's stage, but set to possibly improve from mid-week. Hope so, because it's a great little stage race and definitely growing in stature.

[y2blade]

Ouch!

[CoolC]

Looked like a tough old scrap to the line. I was waiting for the Cav surge, but he looked to get locked out of position to do his thing.

That crash on the last straight looked potentially nasty too.

[Dixie]

So is this going to be Brads first win of the year? Sky look very much in control. But is the race more geared for the sprinters?
I assume Quintana isn't really suited to it as his predominantly a climber (I dare say he's freexing his tits off too!!). Or am I totally wrong?