Your ultimate guide to the SW Tour of Britain
Spectators have 110 miles (177km) of Devon’s roads to choose from to be part of this year’s Friends Life Tour of Britain.
Devon County Council will host Stage Five of the 2014 edition of the race, starting in Exmouth and finishing in Exeter.
The race starts at 11am on Exmouth Strand and will roll out along Alexandra Terrace, the Esplanade and Carlton Hill before heading out of Exmouth on Salterton Road towards Budleigh Salterton. Before the start of the race, the team vehicles will be parked along Rolle Street and Rolle Road.
Last year’s Devon Stage, which raced from Sidmouth to Haytor on Dartmoor, attracted record crowds of around 250,000 spectators in Devon. Packed crowds are expected again this year to catch a glimpse of the world’s best teams including Sky Pro Cycling, Omega Pharma Quick-Step, Garmin Sharp, Movistar, BMC Racing Team, and Tinkoff Saxo.
As well as the start and finish venues, some of the most exciting places to see the 120 pro cyclists in action are the SKODA King of the Mountains climbs at Mamhead, Haytor, and Stoke Woods/Pennsylvania Road, on the outskirts of Exeter. There are also YodelDirect Sprints at Powderham, Chudleigh and Crediton.
The Stage will also pass through a number of other communities including Budleigh Salterton, Woodbury, Topsham, Exminster, Starcross, Bovey Tracey, Widecombe in the Moor, Princetown, Tavistock, Okehampton, and Copplestone.
Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for cycling, said: “From Exmouth on East Devon’s stunning Jurassic Coast to the historic city centre of Exeter, there is plenty of opportunity to catch some of the action. The start and finish venues usually attract the biggest crowds, and this year it’s possible to see both the start and finish and enjoy a short cycle from Exmouth to Exeter along the Exe Estuary Trail. The race also takes in Dartmoor National Park and many of Devon’s market towns, so wherever people decide to watch the race, hopefully they will make a day of it. The advice is to leave plenty of time to travel, in order to avoid delays.”
Councillor Iain Chubb, East Devon District Council Cabinet Member for Environment, said: “It’s not often that you see the international superstars of sport riding past your home or cycling through your town – so I’m confident that the people of East Devon will be out in force to watch the action and cheer their heroes on from the many vantage points all along the route. Get in position nice and early and please park sensibly so you don’t block anyone in their home or driveway.”
Councillor Rosie Denham, Exeter City Council’s Lead Councillor for Economy and Culture, said: "We’re thrilled in Exeter to be hosting the finale to Stage Five which I am sure will provide a thrilling climax. I have no doubt that the people of Exeter will line the streets to welcome the riders home."
Road Closures
There will be fixed road closures in place in the start and finish locations – Exmouth and Exeter, and rolling road closures all along the route of the race enforced by 62 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.
Exmouth -
In Exmouth, the rolling road closure will affect Alexandra Terrace, The Esplanade, Carlton Hill and Salterton Road as the race sets off.
The following roads will be closed from 5am to 1pm on Thursday 11 September, and no parking will be permitted from 6pm on Wednesday night (10 September) until 1pm on Thursday:
Chapel Hill (from The Strand to High St/Tower St/Alexandra Terrace Roundabout), Market Street, Queen Street (from Tower Street to The Strand), Rolle Rd, Rolle St and The Strand B3178 (from Carlton Hill roundabout to Imperial Road/Parade roundabout), St Andrew’s Road, from Imperial Road to Chapel Hill), The Strand (from Victoria Road to Chapel Hill, Tower Street (from Rolle Street to Queen Street) and Victoria Road (from Imperial Rd to The Strand).
There will also be no parking from 6pm on Wednesday night until 1pm on Thursday at Alexandra Terrace (from Beacon Hill to Imperial Road) and The Strand (from Victoria Road to Imperial Road/Parade roundabout.
Exeter -
In Exeter, rolling road closures will affect the A377 Cowley Bridge, A396 Stoke Road and Pennsylvania Road (from Stoke Rd to the junction of Hillsborough Avenue) as the race heads towards the finish in the city centre.
Roads which will be closed on Thursday (11 Sept) from 5am until 7pm are:
Acland Rd
Bedford St & Catherine St
Blackall Road from Thornton Hill to Pennsylvania Rd
Cheeke Street from Bampflyde St to Sidwell St
High St from Paris St to Queen St
King William St (Access only for residents and John Lewis car
park until approx 2pm from Sidwell St, St
Anne’s [Odeon] Roundabout)
Leighton Terrace (Access only for residents and King William St
car park until approx 2pm)
Longbrook Street from Blackall Rd roundabout to York House (nr York Rd)
Oxford Rd (closed at York Rd Junction with access only via St James’ Rd)
Summerland St from Red Lion Lane to Sidwell St (Access to John Lewis and King William St car parks are only via Sidwell St from St Anne’s [Odeon] roundabout).
Well St - Closed at York Rd Junction (Access only via St James’ Rd)
York Rd from Longbrook St to Sidwell St (There is access from Sidwell St for John Lewis and King William St car parks only).
Roads closed on Thursday (11 Sept) from 10am until 7pm:
Castle St, Rougemont Place and Little Castle St
High St from Fore Street/South Street and Queen Street
Little Paul Street.
Northernhay St (closed at Queen St. The bollard at the Iron Bridge end will be removed to allow access via Exe St).
Paris St from Dix’s Field to High St (access into Dix's Field will not be affected).
Paul St from Queen St to Guildhall car park (There will be access to Guildhall car park via Bartholomew St and Iron Bridge).
There will be no parking in Northernhay Place from 8pm Wednesday until 7pm Thursday. The road will be closed from 10am until 7pm on Thursday with access for off street parking only.
No parking in Queen St from Isca Place car park to High St from 8pm Wednesday until 7pm Thursday. The road will be closed from 10am Thursday until 7pm, but there will be access to Isca Place car park from the Clock Tower roundabout.
No parking in Pennsylvania Rd, from Hillsborough Ave to Blackall Rd roundabout, from 10pm Wednesday until 7pm Thursday. The road will be closed from 5am until 7pm on Thursday.
No parking from 8pm Wednesday until 7pm Thursday on Sidwell St from York Rd to Paris St/High St. This section of Sidwell Street will also be closed from 5am Thursday until 7pm. Traffic will be allowed to turn left from Sidwell St into Summerland St or right into York Rd for John Lewis and King William St car parks only. The road will be closed on Thursday from approximately 2pm until 7pm.
Bude Street will be one way (towards Co-op) from 5am Thursday until around 7pm.
There will be no access to Queens Crescent from 5am Thursday until 7pm due to the closure of York Rd.
There will no access to Queens Crescent from 5am to 7pm on Thursday due to the closure of York Rd.
No parking/loading in Market Street from Guinea St to Fore Street, from 8pm Wednesday until around 7pm on Thursday.
No parking in Bampfylde St from Cheeke St to Paris St from 8pm Wednesday until 7pm Thursday. The road will be one way (towards Paris Street) and will be the location for temporary bus stops from 5am Thursday until around 7pm.
No parking in Bailey St, Musgrave Row and Little Queen St from 8pm Wednesday until 7pm Thursday. Road closed on Thursday from 10am until 7pm. The Lower library area will be closed on Thursday from 5am. There will be access only for Northernhay Place and Castle.
Parking and Transport
Spectators wishing to travel by train between the start in Exmouth and finish in Exeter are reminded that capacity to carry bikes on these services is limited to two spaces per train.
Most car parks in Exeter will operate as normal. However, the race will restrict access to some city centre car parks. These are:
King William Street and John Lewis car parks, where access will only be via Sidwell Street from St Anne’s (Odeon) roundabout until approximately 2pm. Sidwell Street will then be closed until 7pm. All traffic will leave via New North Road.
Guildhall and Harlequins car park - access only via Bartholomew Street or Iron Bridge.
Howell Road car park - access via New North Road and Blackall Road.
Isca Place car park, Queen Street - access only via Clock Tower end of Queen Street.
Exeter library car park - only Blue Badge parking will be available.
Due to the road closures there will be diversions to bus routes and some bus stops will not be serviced.
Exmouth:
Services 57/157/357 will divert via Exeter Road, (Service 357 departing from the Parade when Rolle Street is closed), Gypsy Lane, Marlpool Hill, and Claremount Grove, picking up normal route at Salterton Road. This will operate in both directions.
Service 95 will divert from the Bus Station via Victoria Road, picking up normal route at the Esplanade, affects outbound route only.
Exeter:
There will be no buses serving Queen Street, Longbrook Street, High Street, Sidwell Street and York Road until after 18:30. Temporary bus stops will be set up in Bampflyde Street (parallel to the Bus Station) and Market Street (opposite Market Carpets), to replace those stops opposite BHS (Services A,B,E,F and P).
The following services will be diverted:
Service A from Exe Bridges – normal route to BHS, then via South Street, Western Way, Cheeke Street, Bampfylde Street, Paris Street, Heavitee Road and normal route.
From Heavitree via Cheeke Street, Bampfylde Street, Paris Street, Western Way, South Street, Market Street and normal route from Fore Street.
Service B from Exe Bridges - normal route to BHS, then via South Street, Western Way, Cheeke Street, Bampfylde Street, Paris Street, Western Way, Old Tiverton Road, Stoke Arms roundabout and then normal route.
From Stoke Arms via Old Tiverton Road, Western Way, Cheeke Street, Bampfylde Street, Paris Street, Western Way, South Street, Market Street and normal route from Fore Street.
Service D from University - Prince of Wales Road, Union Road, Stoke Arms Roundabout, Old Tiverton Road, Western Way, Cheeke Street, Bampfylde Street, Paris Street, Heavitree Road and normal route.
From Heavitree Road via Cheeke Street, Bampfylde Road, Paris Street, Western Way, Old Tiverton Road, Union Road, Prince of Wales Road, Streatham Drive and normal route.
Services E/F1/F2 from Exe Bridges - normal route to BHS, then via South Street, Western Way, Cheeke Street, Bampfylde Street, Paris Street, Western Way and normal route from Old Tiverton Road.
From Old Tiverton Road via Western Way, Cheeke Street, Bampfylde Street, Paris Street, Western Way, South Street, Market Street and normal route from Fore Street.
Service G from the Quay - normal route to BHS, then via South Street, Western Way, Cheeke Street, Bampfylde Street, Paris Street, Western Way and normal route from Blackboy Road.
From Blackboy Road via Western Way, Cheeke Street, Bampfylde Street, Paris Street, Western Way, South Street, Market Street, Fore Street, South Street and then normal route to the Quay.
Service H from St Davids Station via Bonhay Road, Exe Bridges, Fore Street, BHS, South Street, Western Way, Cheeke Street, Bampfylde Street, Paris Street, Heavitee Road and normal route.
From Heavitree Road via Cheeke Street, Bampfylde Street, Paris Street, Western Way, South Street, Market Street, Fore Street, Exe Bridges, Bonhay Road and normal route from St Davids Station.
Services J/K/T from Topsham Road - normal route to BHS then via South Street, Western Way, Cheeke Street, Bampfylde Street, Paris Street, Western Way and normal route from Blackboy Road.
From Blackboy Road via Western Way, Cheeke Street, Bampfylde Street, Paris Street, Western Way, South Street, Market Street, Fore Street, South Street and then normal route to Countess Wear etc.
Service P from Exe Bridges - normal route to BHS then via South Street, Western Way, Cheeke Street, Bampfylde Street, Paris Street, Western Way and normal route from Blackboy Road.
From Blackboy Road via Western Way, Cheeke Street, Bampfylde Street, Paris Street, Western Way, South Street, Market Street and normal route to Fore Street.
Service R from Topsham Road - normal route to BHS then via South Street, Western Way, Cheeke Street, Bampfylde Street, Paris Street, Heavitree Road and normal route.
Service S from Heavitree – via Cheeke Street, Bampfylde Street, Paris Street, Western Way, South Street, Market Street, Fore Street, South Street, then normal route.
Blue/Red Park & Ride & M2 from Sowton/Honiton Road - from Blackboy Road, Western Way around Paris Street roundabout, Western Way, Summerland Street, Bampfylde Road to Cheeke Street – (Bus Stop outside Stagecoach offices).
From Cheeke Street via Western Way and normal route from Blackboy Road.
Service SR4 from Heavitree via Western Way, Summerland Street, Bamfylde Road to Cheeke Street – (Bus Stop outside Stagecoach offices).
From Cheeke Street – normal route.
Services 1/1A/1B/1C from Blackboy Road via Western Way, Cheeke Street to Bus Station.
From Bus Station via Paris Street, Western Way and normal route from Blackboy Road.
Services 5/5A/5B/5C/55/55A/55B/155 from Cowley Bridge – via St Davids Station, Bonhay Road, Exe Bridges, Western Way, Cheeke Street, Bus Station.
From Bus Station via Paris Street, Western Way, Exe Bridges, Bonhay Road, St Davids Station, Cowley Bridge and then normal route.
Service X9 – normal route to St Davids Station then back along Bonhay Road to Exe Bridges then Western Way, Cheeke Street, Bus Station.
From Bus Station via Paris Street, Western Way, Exe Bridges, Bonhay Road, St Davids Station then normal route.
The Green Park & Ride will be unaffected.
All other rural services are not affected.
The 2014 Friends Life Tour of Britain will start in Liverpool on Sunday (7 September )and finish in London with an individual time trial and a circuit race on Sunday 14 September.
Devon Stage - Stage Five (Estimated times)
Start - Exmouth Strand 11:00
YodelDirect Sprint - Kenton 11:56
SKODA KOM - Mamhead (Cat.2) 12:04
YodelDirect Sprint - Chudleigh 12:24
SKODA KOM - Haytor (Cat. 1) 12.34
YodelDirect Sprint - Crediton 14:58
SKODA KOM - Stoke Woods (Cat.2) 15:19
Finish - Exeter High Street 15:26
For more information go to www.southwesttourofbritain.co.uk and www.tourofbritain.co.uk. On Twitter follow @SWTourofBritain or like our SW Tour on Britain Facebook page www.facebook.com/pages/Tour-of-Britain-South-West/93956718666?fref=ts
Notes for Editors:
The complete list of teams that will be competing in the 2014 Friends Life Tour of Britain is as follows:
UCI Pro Teams
Belkin Pro Cycling (NED)
BMC Racing Team (USA)
Garmin Sharp (USA)
Movistar Team (SPA)
Omega Pharma Quick-Step (BEL)
Team Giant Shimano (NED)
Team Sky (GBR)
Tinkoff Saxo (RUS)
UCI Pro Continental Teams
Bardiani CSF (ITA)
IAM Cycling (SWI)
MTN Qhubeka (RSA)
Team NetApp Endura (Ger)
Team Novo Nordisk (USA)
UCI Continental Teams
AN Post Chain Reaction (IRL)
Madison Genesis (GBR)
NFTO Pro Cycling (GBR)
Giordana Racing Team (GBR)
Rapha Condor JLT (GBR)
Team Raleigh (GBR)
National Teams
Great Britain (GBR)
