Tour of Britain comes to Greater Manchester
The final stage of the final day of the event will conclude on Deansgate.
Last updated 6th Sep 2019
The countdown is under way as the final stage of the 2019 Tour of Britain prepares to make its way to Greater Manchester.
The final stage of the final day of the event will conclude on Deansgate.
On September 14 the riders will set off from Altrincham at 11am on a route that will take them across Greater Manchester.
During the final push riders will be expected to arrive into the city centre shortly after 3pm.
The Tour which also goes through parts of Greater Manchester including Stockport (see below) brings together some of the most well known names in world cycling.
There will also be a cohort of riders who trace their roots back to Greater Manchester, making this stage even more special as a homecoming for them. They include Adam Blythe from team Lotto Soudal of Wilmslow, Owain Doull, Team INEOS who lives in Manchester, and Jacob Scott, Swift Carbon Pro Cycling of Oldham.
While the city centre of Manchester will provide the finale, Altrincham, in the borough of Trafford, will take centre stage on the morning of the 14th, acting as the starting point for the final stage of the Tour.
The peloton will then make its way through every one of Greater Manchester’s 10 constituent boroughs before making its finish in the centre of Manchester.
Over the course of the route cyclists will ride 165km over an incredibly varied course, from city centre streets to the hills and valleys that surround Greater Manchester.
Three sprint sections and three King of the Mountain stages will make sure spectators will be kept on their toes as the riders tear through the countryside at breakneck speed, or dig deep over the more than 2,000m of climbing that will have to be conquered.
As well as watching the race itself, the Tour’s organisers have called for the public to share their excitement for the race by more artistic means.
They have challenged people along the race’s route to design land art, that will be seen from their air during the TV broadcast of the event. The more creative the better!
Last year a group of farmers in Devon were crowned the winners thanks to their incredible installation of a super-sized bike which featured dozens of farm vehicles and movable wheels, chain and pedals.
For more information about the land art competition visit the Tour of Britain website at www.tourofbritain.co.uk/community/land-art.
To facilitate the race there will be a series of road closures imposed throughout the day to ensure the peloton can progress. (See below).
Councillor Luthfur Rahman, Executive Member for Skills, Culture and Leisure for Manchester City Council, said: “To have such an illustrious sporting event finish in Manchester, the home of British Cycling is a truly special occasion.
It will be a sight to see the riders coming down Deansgate, the home of some of Manchester’s most well known landmarks, and I hope the public will enjoy what will no doubt be a very exciting day.”
“Cycling has made such a huge mark on this city so it is a wonderful thing that Manchester will see the conclusion of this year’s tour. For so many thousands of people to see these top class athletes up close will be an amazing experience, and may well inspire the young people of Manchester into becoming the next Bradley Wiggins or Laura Kenny.”
Cllr Andrew Western, leader of Trafford Council, said: “Being given the chance to host the final stage of such a prestigious event represents yet another major coup for Trafford and we hope to give people in the borough many more opportunities to watch similar events on their doorstep in the future.
“Our reputation as a venue for staging top class sport is now well-established. We have the facilities to stage them.”
Road Closures in Manchester:
Saturday 14 September road closures: from 04:30 to 21:00
Water Street - From New Elm Road to Liverpool Road
Liverpool Road - From Water Street to Deansgate
Deansgate - From Whitworth Street West to John Dalton Street
Little Quay Street - From Quay Street to Atkinson Street
Atkinson Street - From Deansgate to Little Quay Street
Quay Street - From Byrom to Deansgate
Peter Street - From Deansgate to Oxford Street
Bootle Street - From Deansgate to Jerusalem Place
Jerusalem Place - From Bootle Street to Peter Street
Closures for approx. 15 mins between 14.30 to 15.30
Regent Road East Bound - From River Irwell to Trinity Way
Trinity Way - From Regent Road to Water Street
Water Street - From Trinity Way to New Elm Road
Closures for approx. 30 mins between 15:00 to 16:00
Watson Street - From Great Bridgewater to Peter Stree