It’s our equivalent of the Tour de France! Sir Bradley Wiggins - Olympic Gold medalist and Tour de France winner – will be just one of the famous names pedaling round the country in this increasingly popular spectator event.
The 8 stage event will start in Peebles, Scotland, and end in London. The Surrey leg is stage number 7.
All the local action takes place on Sept 21, when the peloton leaves Epsom Racecourse at midday, and snakes though Leatherhead, Dorking, Cranleigh, Woking, Elstead and Farnham. After 150 grueling kilometers across the county, the riders will battle it out on Guildford’s cobbled High Street to cross the finish line first.
So show your support for the professional riders tackling the penultimate stage of the national event! The whole route is unticketed, so everyone can watch for free.
Best places to watch the race and make the most of the day's activities:
Race Start
12.00pm start of Stage 7, Epsom Downs Racecourse, Epsom Downs, Surrey KT18 5LQ
Stage Seven of The Tour of Britain starts at Epsom Downs Racecourse. Perched on top of the Downs, it offers breath-taking panoramic views across London to the north and the rolling Surrey countryside to the South. In addition to the official start at Epsom Downs Racecourse, the best vantage places in Epsom are in Upper High Street, High Street, Ashley Avenue (as the cyclists swing past the Ashley Centre car park and past the Epsom Playhouse) and Rosebery Park’s South Street entrance.
If you're planning on being at the official start at Epsom Downs, activities and entertainment start from 10am and include music from the Downsmen North Surrey Barbershop Harmony Club, Jazz Trio, Saxophone and Clarinet ensembles by Epsom College. There will also be stilt walkers; bike security marking by Surrey Police; Bike Mechanics; fire safety and cycling campaigns by the Fire Service; cycling challenges on stationery bikes by Rainbow Leisure Centre and even a restored Penny Farthing on display.
Over 60 P&G Surrey Youth Games athletes from this year's Team Epsom & Ewell will form a Guard of Honour before the event commences. There will also be a lead out procession just prior to the start which will include adapted bikes for people with disabilities led by Wheels For All and Welmede.
Alternatively, If you're waiting to cheer on the cyclists in Epsom High Street, drop into Derby Square for family entertainment, including face painting. The traditional Saturday market will take place as usual in the Market Place. There will be a food stall in Ashley Avenue and Rosebery Park is an ideal picnic venue.
The Ashley Centre will be running free workshops for children of all ages from 9.30am to 3.30pm to create their very own flags or wall hangings to wave at the cyclists as they pass through Epsom and will have a roving jazz band to entertain the crowds.
Yodel Sprints
Each road stage of The Tour of Britain features three intermediate Yodel Sprints. Highly popular with fans, riders battle it out to be first across the sprint line to claim points, and have bonus seconds to be taken off their overall race time. The results of the whole race can swing as a result of time bonuses, so the Yodel Sprint points are excellent places to spectate if you are looking for fast paced, competitive action.
Yodel Sprint point one: Dorking, outside The Rug Centre, South Street RH4. Aim to get there for 12.25pm
Yodel Sprint point two: Cranleigh, outside No. 3 Ewhurst road GU6. Aim to get there for 12.50pm
Yodel Sprint point three: Woking, outside Sands Public House, Chertsey Road, GU21. Aim to get there for 1.30pm
Race Finish
Estimated Finish Time 3.19pm – 4.03pm, Guildford High Street, Guildford GU1 3AJ
Gather on the historic high street to cheer for competitors as they cross the line and finish the Surrey Stage. Alternatively, find a spot along Portsmouth road to see the cyclists sweat it out in the final kilometer of the race.
If you prefer to watch the tour from the comfort of your own home you’ll be pleased to know that the race will be broadcasted live on ITV4 and British Eurosport. The live broadcasting will also come as welcome news if you are keen to keep up with the racers as they tour round Britain. The tour begins in Peebles, Scotland, on 15th September.
