The expected arrival times of cyclists in Northumberland during next month’s Aviva Tour of Britain have been announced.
The race, from September 6 to 13, will enter the county from the Scottish Borders on Wednesday, September 9, during Stage Four. It will head along a route from Wooler to Alnwick then down the Northumberland coastline, via Amble and Cresswell, to finish that day in Blyth.
The race will restart the following morning from Prudhoe and will follow Hadrian’s Wall, heading across the Pennines into Cumbria before ending in a summit finish on Hartside Fell – one of the key stages of the race.
World-class riders, including Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish, are competing in the event, which starts in Wales and ends in London.
It is the first time since 2009 that Britain’s national bike race has passed through the North East and it is a massive coup for the county, as the Tour is to be broadcast in more than 130 countries, including live coverage on the ITV network, and will raise the profile of the county internationally.
Expected arrival times
Wednesday September 9 – Stage 4
Cornhill: 12:25pm
Crookham: 12:35pm
Ford (King of the Mountains section): 12:40pm
Doddington: 1pm
Wooler: 1:05pm
Eglingham: 1:30pm
Alnwick (King of the Mountains section and Sprint section): 1:45pm
Lesbury: 1:55pm
Hipsburn: 1:55pm
Warkworth (Sprint section): 2:05pm
Amble: 2:10pm
Widdrington: 2:20pm
Cresswell: 2:25pm
Ellington: 2:30pm
Ashington: 2:35pm
Bedlington: 2:50pm
Hartford: 2:55pm
Cramlington: 3:05pm
Seaton Delaval: 3:15pm
Seaton Sluice: 3:20pm
Blyth finish: 3:30pm
Thursday September 10 – Stage 5
Prudhoe start: 11am
Riding Mill: 11:20am
Hexham: 11:30am
Lowgate: 11:30am
North Pennines: 11:45am
Haydon Bridge: 11:55am
Military Road: 12:10pm
Twice Brewed: 12:17pm
Greenhead: 12:30pm
Gilsland: 12:35pm