South Gloucestershire is preparing to welcome the arrival of the 2023 Tour of Britain cycling race on Saturday 9 September when the world’s top cyclists will be racing through the area.
Stage seven sets off from Tewkesbury in Gloucestershire at 11am and covers 170.9 kilometres (106.3 miles) before riders finish alongside the historic Gloucester Docks. The route – which takes in Bishops Cleeve, Winchcombe, Cirencester, Tetbury, Chipping Sodbury, Yate, Dursley, and Stroud – is the same as was originally scheduled to feature in last year’s Tour of Britain until cancellation following the passing of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.
Race leaders will cross the border into South Gloucestershire on the A46 at Dunkirk (near Hawkesbury Upton) shortly after 1.20pm. The riders then drop down through Horton, into Chipping Sodbury and Yate, and out towards Iron Acton and Rangeworthy, before exiting the district from Charfield around 2.20pm. For more details visit www.southglos.gov.uk/ToB
The best viewing sites for the free-to-watch race are Chipping Sodbury High Street and Rangeworthy. Find your safe spectator spot early and enjoy the build up to the peloton arriving. There will be an advance vehicle 15 minutes ahead of the race, keeping you up to date with what is happening.
To help promote the Tour of Britain, the council has positioned around 20 yellow bikes along and near the route. People are encouraged to take a selfie next to the bikes and email it to the council via strategiccommunications@southglos.gov.uk to share on social media.
Councillor Claire Young, Leader of South Gloucestershire Council, said: “We are very excited to welcome the Tour of Britain to South Gloucestershire on Saturday. The event is sure to have a fantastic atmosphere and is a great way to bring communities together to spectate as the riders pass through our countryside, towns and villages.
“We hope that the excitement of the race will inspire more people to get out on their bikes to enjoy the local area and support the Big Switch to more active travel.”
Residents have been informed that rolling road closures will be in place to ensure disruption is kept to a minimum along the stage seven route on Saturday. This means roads on and around the race route will be closed to traffic for a short period (usually around 30 minutes) to enable the race to pass through safely. There will also be parking suspensions along the route at Horton Hill, Horton, Chipping Sodbury High Street and Rangeworthy.
The Tour of Britain is escorted along the route by trained police officers and escort motorcyclists. If you are asked to stop by an officer, please listen carefully and follow their instructions.
Respect the riders – everyone is encouraged to support and cheer on the riders but please remember this is a major international race for them. Please don’t block their route, run alongside them or impede their progress. Keep children back from the edge of the road and animals on a lead, away from the roadside. Residents are encouraged to wave flags, but please keep flags, objects and photography equipment out of the road.
The full timings for the stage and an interactive stage map are available on the Tour of Britain website www.tourofbritain.co.uk/stages/stage-seven/
