City gets set to welcome the Tour of Britain

The city is gearing up to welcome the UK’s biggest cycle race, the Tour of Britain, that is wending its way to Brighton for the penultimate stage of the race this Saturday, 13 September 2014. 

To mark the occasion, city landmark the Brighton Wheel will be lit in yellow on Friday and Saturday nights, in line with the signature colour of the Tour’s prestigious yellow jersey worn by the race leader. 

Thousands of residents and visitors are expected to turn out to see the race pass through the city and live coverage of the event will broadcast on ITV4.

On Saturday, VisitBrighton’s City Champions will be on hand at Brighton train station to welcome spectators and offer maps and directions to the finish line and a number of local businesses are offering special deals on the day for Tour spectators.

Offers include: a biker’s breakfast at the Bolney Estate; a Biker’s Heart Warming Sussex 3 Course Dinner at New Steine Bistro; a flat rate £1 fare on the Volks Railway for residents who quote VisitBrighton and use the code “Sprocket”; and a discounted entry of £3 at Brighton Sand Sculpture Festival. 

The city’s cycling-themed café, Velo, will also host a number of events throughout the day, including smoothie making sessions for kids and cycle races on static mountain bikes in the evening.  Coverage of the event will be shown on the café’s 48ins screen from 1pm. 

Geoffrey Bowden, BHCC’s chair of economic development & culture, says: “It’s great to see the city coming together to welcome this significant sporting event.  Brighton is very good at hosting major events and this is an essential part of the city’s local visitor economy. 

“Having the race finish here is a real coup as the atmosphere towards the end will no doubt be electric. I hope as many residents as possible will be among the spectators cheering on the riders and making this year’s race a truly memorable one.”

The 7th leg of the tour, will leave Camberley, Surrey at 10am, taking in 140 miles through West and East Sussex and is due to finish on Madeira Drive, Brighton between 3-4pm.

Sir Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish and Marcel Kittel are among the top riders taking part in the race which attracts the biggest live attendance of any sporting event in the UK. The economic benefit of hosting the race in 2013 was an estimated £3million per stage.

 

The Tour and Brighton – 10 things you might not know

 

Notes for editors

A number of local roads will be closed in preparation for the race:

  • Madeira Drive - 5am to 7pm (closed all day)
  • The A259 from Lower Rock Gardens to the Aquarium roundabout will be closed from 1.30pm to 5pm and there will be a diversion along Edward Street at that time.
  • The Aquarium roundabout will remain open but will be reduced to one lane for the duration of the event.

Organisers estimate the race will pass through the below locations at the following times (subject to change):

  • Ditchling Beacon 2:57pm
  • Coldean Lane 3.06pm
  • A270 Lewes Road 3.08pm
  • Bear Road 3.11pm
  • Warren Road 3.14pm
  • Wilson Avenue 3.14pm
  • Marina Way 3.16pm
  • Through tunnel 3.17pm
  • Marine Parade 3.19pm (closed for 2 hours)

The roads will be closed by Police 10-15 minutes before the tour passes through and will be re-opened once they have left.

For bus diversion information see:  http://buses.co.uk/news/story.aspx?articleid=2853

More information about cycling in Brighton can be found on the VisitBrighton website and for information about cycle facilities such as cycle parking, counters, cycle routes and 'toucan' crossings see the City Cycle Facilities Map