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North East welcomes world's top cyclists

People across the North East will be able to watch the world’s top cyclists race past their doorstep this week.

On day six of the Tour of Britain over 90 elite riders, including British Olympic medallists, will battle for the yellow jersey across the 97-mile route through the region.

This will be the first time that the Tour of Britain has visited North East England. The race will start at 10.15am on Friday in Darlington, one of England’s six cycling demonstrations towns, and finish on Gateshead Quays.

The cyclists will pass through (approximate timings only): Sedgefield (10.49am); Durham city (11.15am); Burnhope (11.30am); Rowlands Gill (11.48am); Wylam (12.01pm); Stamfordham (12.21pm); crosses A696 at Belsay (12.34pm); Morpeth (12.56pm); Bedlington (1.03pm); Seaton Sluice (1.20pm); Whitley Bay (1.23pm); Tynemouth (1.27pm); North Shields Fish Quay (1.36pm); Wallsend A187 (1.43pm) ; Walker A186 (1.48pm); Newcastle Quayside (1.53pm) crossing the Swing Bridge to Gateshead Quays.

Cyclists are expected to finish on Gateshead Quays between approximately 1.55pm and 2.20pm. There will be a special presentation for the stage winner and leaders’ jerseys on the podium at Gateshead Quays shortly after the lead cyclists cross the finish.

Paul Rowland, press officer on behalf of the Tour of Britain, said: “We’re really looking forward to our first visit to North East England. We have a great route that looks to be tailor made for a sprint finish on the banks of the Tyne. By the time the riders arrive in Darlington we’ll have a good idea of who the contenders are for the 2008 Yellow Jersey, but there will still be all to play for along the road between Darlington and NewcastleGateshead.”

For more information about the Tour of Britain visit www.tourofbritain.co.uk/northeast.

During the North East stage of Tour of Britain there will be rolling road closures which will be managed to keep disruption to other road users to a minimum.

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .