The fifth stage of The ‘Tour of Britain’ national cycling race is now just days away, with cycling fans, residents and businesses preparing to see this sporting spectacle as it returns to Ruddington on Thursday 8th September.
As four years’ ago, villagers and visitors will be able to line our streets to witness over one hundred of the world’s best riders speeding through, close to the start of the 118 mile route from West Bridgford to Mansfield.
The race starts on Central Avenue at 10.45am and the cyclists will reach Ruddington via Wilford Road at around 11am. They will then head along High Street, take a left turn into Kirk Lane and then a right turn onto Loughborough Road on their way to Bradmore and beyond. To ensure clear passage, driving and parking restrictions will again be in place along this route on the day.
A full Stage Five route map and and timings are available online >>HERE<<.
It is the third time the showpiece event has taken place in the county – with Nottinghamshire stages in 2017 and 2018 – the latter route also including Ruddington on exactly the same date. The big difference this time is that September 8th falls on a Thursday, rather than a Saturday, meaning there will be rather less in the way of colourful displays adorning the village to welcome the riders than there were four years’ ago.
Nevertheless, villagers are still expected to line the streets to see the riders – and again a global audience of millions is anticipated as The Tour of Britain is aired “live” on TV channels around the world and here on ITV4.
Moreover, there’s potential local interest this year in the shape of Ruddington’s very own Ollie Peckover {photo below courtesy of Rushcliffe Borough Council} who still hopes he may get to ride on the day for the British Ribble Weldtite team. However, sadly, he is not named on their list of seven riders who are currently set to start the Tour of Britain this Sunday (4th September).
Ollie says: “Potentially having an opportunity to race a stage on home roads has been such a motivation for me throughout the 2022 season. I know the roads really well. I’ve learnt the stage route metre-by-metre so I feel like I’m prepared for it!”
Fingers crossed, Ollie!
