Spectators' guide to Devon Stage of the Tour of Britain

Spectators have 93 miles (137km) of Devon’s roads to choose from when it comes to watching the Devon Stage Tour of Britain on Friday 9 September.

Devon County Council, supported by East Devon District Council, Teignbridge District Council and Dartmoor National Park, will host Stage Six of The Tour, starting in Sidmouth and finishing at Haytor.

Crowds are being tipped to exceed last year’s record of 230,000 spectators that lined the route in Devon.

And once again the advice is to leave plenty of time to travel to where you’re planning to watch the action, in order to avoid delays. Among the world class riders taking part this year are a trio of Rio Olympic medallists Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish and Tom Dumoulin.

As well as the start and finish venues, some of the most exciting places to see 120 of the world’s top professional cyclists competing in the stage which takes in communities including Ottery St Mary, Honiton, Willand, Tiverton, Crediton, Moretonhampstead, Chudleigh and Bovey Tracey.

The Devon Stage therefore has three designated Yodel Sprints and three designated King of the Mountains Climbs.

Yodel Sprints
•    Tiverton – specific location to be determined
•    Crediton - High Street,
•    Chudleigh – Fore Street

SKODA King of the Mountains (KOM)
•    Chineway Hill - not used by Tour of Britain before, the 2.9-kilometre climb averages around 5%
•    Cadbury Hill - not used in this direction by the Tour of Britain before
•    Dunchideock - not used by the Tour of Britain before, the short, sharp, 1.5-kilometre climb averages 8%
•    Haytor - used as a summit finish in 2013, the first in the modern Tour of Britain, the race has crossed Haytor in both 2011 and 2014, with the 5.9-kilometre climb average 6% and ascending over 350-metres.

Sidmouth to Haytor, Dartmoor
•    93 miles (150km)
•    3,100 metres of climbs

Estimated times of arrival

    Start: Sidmouth, The Esplanade 11:30
    Ottery St Mary 11:49
    Chineway Hill KoM 11:50
    Honiton 12:01
    Tiverton Sprint 12:36
    Tiverton, Fore Street 12:40
    Cadbury Hill KoM 12:49
    Crediton Sprint 13:09
    Moretonhampstead 14:01
    Ide 14:29
    Dunchideock KoM 14:35
    Chudleigh Sprint 14:50
    Bovey Tracey, High St 14:57
    Haytor KoM 15:00
    Finish: Dartmoor, Haytor 15:09

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council's Cabinet Member for Highways with resposibility for cycling said: “We have enjoyed some incredible Devon Stages of The Tour of Britain over the years, and because this will be the home coming race of our three new Olympic medallists Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish, and Tom Dumoulin, this one will be extra special.

“The Stage takes in some stunning locations throughout the route, from Sidmouth on the Jurassic Coast to Dartmoor National Park, so there is plenty of opportunity for people to enjoy the race and for communities to be part of this great sporting occasion. The start and finish venues are always popular, and we hope that visitors will provide the local economy with a welcome boost by making a day of it.”

Councillor George Gribble, Teignbridge District Council's Deputy Leader and Executive Spokesman for Recreation and Leisure said: “We look forward to welcoming thousands of cycling fans for a memorable day in our beautiful district. With so many fantastic view points along the Devon route, we encourage those coming along to plan their day so that it is both enjoyable and safe. There will be lots to see and do on the day so make the most of this special opportunity to see many of the world’s leading cyclists.
“This is a flagship event for Teignbridge and one which we take great pride in being involved with.”

Andrew Watson, Head of Recreation, Access & Estates at Dartmoor National Park said:  “Following Team GB’s success in the Rio Olympics, we’re expecting large numbers of people will want to come out and see some of the world’s top riders take on the challenging Devon Stage of this year’s Tour of Britain.  We are advising spectators to plan their visit and allow plenty of time for their journey –if you are planning to come to see the summit finish on Dartmoor, roads and car parks in the Haytor area will be closed to traffic, so please use the park and ride facilities.  Why not make a day of it as there will be plenty going on at Haytor during the morning with a Haytor hill climb challenge, promo zone, local food and a giant TV screen showing live coverage of the race”.

Where is it taking place?
The race starts in Sidmouth at 11:30 and finishes on Haytor at approximately 15:09. The route to Haytor will follow the B3344 from Chudleigh Knighton to Bovey Tracey along Bradley Road, East Street, Fore Street, Station Road and then the B3387 up to Haytor. During the race, the lower, middle and top car parks at Haytor will be used for event / team parking and a promotional zone.

How will this affect you?
To accommodate the Tour of Britain, it is necessary to suspend parking and close a number of roads on Friday 9 September. This will limit vehicle access to businesses and some properties.
We are working hard to keep road closures to a minimum, but you may need to make alternative travel, parking and / or delivery and collection arrangements. We encourage people to allow plenty of time for their journey, and to walk, cycle or use public transport where possible.

Road Closures
There will be fixed road closures in place in the start and finish locations – Sidmouth and Haytor, Dartmoor and rolling road closures all along the route of the race enforced by police and civilian motorcycles.
The rolling road closures will only be in effect for a limited period to allow the race and race vehicles to travel through towns and villages safely and to allow residents, businesses and visitors ample opportunity to see the event safely. Every effort will be made to re-open the roads as soon as it is safe to do so.

Bovey Tracey on-street parking restrictions
Bradley Road
East Street
Fore Street
Abbey Road
Station Road

No Parking: 09:00 to 16:00 on Friday 9 Sept
St Johns Lane
Entire length
No parking: 20:00 on Thursday 8 Sept to 21:00 on Friday 9 Sept

Station Road Car Park
No parking: 20:00 on Thursday 8 Sept to 21:00 on Friday 9 Sept

Rolling road closure
Bradley Road
East Street
Fore Street
Abbey Road
Station Road

Access to homes and businesses could be disrupted for 1 hour or more on Friday 9 September. The race is expected to pass Bovey Tracey between 14:20 and 15:20 however, race timings cannot be guaranteed and may change on the day.

Haytor Road closures and on-street parking restrictions
A382 (Monks Way)
From Newton Road roundabout to Moretonhampstead Road Junction
No parking: 20:00 on Thursday 8 Sept to 21:00 on Friday 9 Sept

B3387 (main road from Bovey Tracey to Widecombe Via Haytor)
From Monks Way roundabout to Hemsworthy Gate
No parking: 20:00 on Thursday 8 Sept to 21:00 on Friday 9th Sept

From Monks Way roundabout to Five Wyches Cross
Road closed: 12:00 to 17:00 on Friday 9 Sept

From Five Wyches Cross to Ludgate Barns
Road closed: local access only: 05:00 to 12:00 on Friday 9 Sept
Road closed: 12:00 to 17:00 on Friday 9 Sept
Road closed: local access only: 17:00 to 21:00 on Friday 9 Sept

From Ludgate Barns to Hemsworthy Gate
Road closed: 05:00 to 21:00 on Friday 9 Sept

From Hemsworthy Gate to Harefoot Cross
No parking: 20:00 on Thursday 8 Sept to 21:00 on Friday 9 Sept

Road from Swallerton Gate Cross to A38, via Hemsworthy Gate
From Swallerton Gate to Cross Cold East Cross
No parking: 20:00 on Thursday 8 Sept to 21:00 on Friday 9 Sept

From Cold East Cross to Goodstone Cross (A38)
No parking: 20:00 on Thursday 8 Sept to 21:00 on Friday 9 Sept
One way traffic – southeast bound: 14:30 to 17:00 on Friday 9 Sept

Road from Beckaford Bridge Cross to Haytor Vale
From Beckaford Bridge Cross to Ludgate Barns
Road closed: local access only: 05:00 to 12:00 on Friday 9 Sept
Road closed: 12:00 to 17:00 on Friday 9 Sept
No parking: 20:00 on Thursday 8 Sept to 21:00 on Friday 9 Sept

Road from Ilsignton to Haytor Vale
From Lewthorn Cross to Smokey Cross
No parking: 20:00 on Thursday 8 Sept to 21:00 on Friday 9 Sept

From Smokey Cross to Moorlands Hotel
No parking: 20:00 on Thursday 8 Sept to 21:00 on Friday 9 Sept

Green Lane
From B3387 to Tipleyhill Lane
No parking: 20:00 on Thursday 8 Sept to 21:00 on Friday 9 Sept

Road past Pitstone to Trumpeter Cottages
From Pitstone to Trumpeter Cottages
No parking: 20:00 on Thursday 8 Sept to 21:00 on Friday 9 Sept

Road past Narracombe Cottages
From Narracombe Cross to Road past Narracombe woods
No parking: 20:00 on Thursday 8 Sept to 21:00 on Friday 9 Sept

On route parking restrictions
Other areas where parking restrictions are necessary to allow the race to pass are:

Tipton St John
Ottery St Mary
Honiton
Willand
Crediton
Bow
Moretonhampstead
Steps Bridge
Ide
Chudleigh
Chudleigh Knighton

Residents' permits to access closed roads
Please note residents of the Haytor area do not require car permits on Friday 9 September. Instead keep the notification letter sent to you and show it at traffic control points. We are working hard to keep road closures to a minimum and to manage access flexibly until midday.

Events - Newton Abbot
Various dates
Time    Event
TBC    Newton Abbot Leisure Centre and Broadmeadow Sports Centre are offering a limited number of free bike-based spinning taster sessions. Contact leisuradmin@teignbridge.gov.uk

Wednesday 31 August
Time    Event
19:00    Pub ride along parts of the route and to places to watch the race. For further information: www.ctctorbay.com.

Thursday 1 September
Time    Event
19:00    Time trial race. Meet at Abbrook/Claypits.  For further information: www.mdcc.org.uk

Saturday 3 September
Time    Event
09:00    Vintage bike parade from Newton Abbot to Bovey Tracey’s Nourish Festival. Meet at clock tower. To register www.eventbrite.co.uk

Tuesday 6 September
Time    Event
TBC    Morning cafe ride along parts of the route and to places to watch the race. For further information www.ctctorbay.com

Sunday 18 September
Time    Event
TBC    Ride the route. Mid Devon Cycle Club are oranising a bus to take riders to Sidmouth and leading rides to Haytor with tea and cake at Ullacombe Farm Cafe. For further information www.mdcc.org.uk

Haytor
Friday 9 September
The build up to the finish is something you have to experience. Dartmoor will be alive with thousands of people wanting to create Devon’s own Tour de France.
Time    Event
10:00    Stalls open
11:00    Schools hill climb event on finishing straight
12:30    Team buses start arriving
13:00    Race can be viewed on large screen
15.09    Race due to arrive
15:15    Podium presentations
15:20    Chance to meet some of the riders

Places to watch
There are four SKODA King of the Mountains and three Sprints to watch this year:

Chineway Hill – A tough climb very early in the race

Blundell’s School, Tiverton – In previous years the whole school have come out to watch the sprint waving Devon Flags

Cadbury Hill, just after Bickleigh – A twisting and turning ride which never seems to end. The riders will be rewarded at the top with stunning views over Mid Devon.

Crediton – A sprint finish outside Queen Elizabeth’s School where there are likely to be hundreds school pupils cheering on the riders.

Dunchideock – A climb from the boundaries of Exeter. Ends with a view of Haldon Belvedere. Why not watch from Haldon Forest Park with plenty of parking and a café? You could even go for a mountain bike ride afterwards.

Chudleigh – The third and final sprint. The town has promised to put on a party atmosphere so expect big crowds, jazz and folk bands, Morris dancers, belly dancers and local food.

Haytor – Fourth and final climb. It promises to offer some thrilling racing and climbing. It starts at the entrance to the Parke Estate and is the race’s summit finish, coming at the top of the six-kilometre climb of Haytor, above Bovey Tracey.

The race travels through Tiverton town centre. It’s a great place to watch the riders up close.

To watch the finish, the best view will be from the east and south sides of Haytor.