Tour of Britain

[Pulpstar]

On Monday I am going to head to Morridge to watch W̶i̶g̶g̶i̶n̶'̶s̶ ̶v̶ic̶t̶o̶r̶y̶ ̶l̶a̶p̶, I mean the Tour of Britain pass through. Going to try to get a spot near the top of the hill. Any idea what time I should aim to get there for, also I presume you just park in a nearby road (That is off the route obviously).

Race is scheduled to hit Morridge at 11:48. So what time should I get there - anyone have experience of these things

Thanks !

 

[willbick]

park in a side road, turn up 1/2 hour before ETA and prepare to be underwhelmed lol

 

[Pricey_sky]

I was going to try and view a stage this year but as I live in Kidderminster the nearest stage me looks like stoke which is a decent drive away. At least ITV have announced they are showing every stage live for the final 2 hours of each day (take note Spanish producers who only show the final hour)

 

[MartinGT]

On Monday I am going to head to Morridge to watch W̶i̶g̶g̶i̶n̶'̶s̶ ̶v̶ic̶t̶o̶r̶y̶ ̶l̶a̶p̶, I mean the Tour of Britain pass through. Going to try to get a spot near the top of the hill. Any idea what time I should aim to get there for, also I presume you just park in a nearby road (That is off the route obviously).

Race is scheduled to hit Morridge at 11:48. So what time should I get there - anyone have experience of these things

Thanks !

I will be parking on Bakewell and cycling to that spot Pulpstar, will be aiming to get there for 11:00 to have a look around, soak in some atmosphere and catch any breakway that has got away.

Looking forward to it

 

[The Cobra]

park in a side road, turn up 1/2 hour before ETA and prepare to be underwhelmed lol

Lol, I would also add that when you see the first motorbike dont panic you've got about half an hour and a million more motorbikes to pass by before you see any cyclists.

Also I recommend watching at the feed zone. The riders will pass slower and there's a good chance a rider will throw you a bottle or a feed bag if you want any freebies. Just do some stretches first because its likely you'll have to sprint to grab them ahead of small children.

 

[MartinGT]

Lol, I would also add that when you see the first motorbike dont panic you've got about half an hour and a million more motorbikes to pass by before you see any cyclists.

Also I recommend watching at the feed zone. The riders will pass slower and there's a good chance a rider will throw you a bottle or a feed bag if you want any freebies. Just do some stretches first because its likely you'll have to sprint to grab them ahead of small children.

The small children will, or should be at school!

Last year I went to see them at Gun Hill and they all came past very slowly and were all chatting and taking it steady, was quite cool to see Thor having a good chinwag with one of the Raleigh riders

 

[jamiephillips]

Quite often if a school is en route small children may well be by the roadside, so be prepared to knock them out of the way to get that bidon. As a fully grown adult, this should be fairly easy. Good luck!

 

[johnnycash]

Stage cycling is probably the worst sport ot see live, so don't set expectations too high.

Tour of britain is just like the tour de france except there is more shouting from motorbikes as the roads are not closed.

 

[MartinGT]

Stage cycling is probably the worst sport ot see live, so don't set expectations too high.

Tour of britain is just like the tour de france except there is more shouting from motorbikes as the roads are not closed.

When I saw my first race live (Kellogs Tour of Britain then) I got there an hour before, waited and it was over in seconds lol, I was gutted.

For me its the *woosh* of the air as the bunch comes passed, the sound of the carbon rims, the smell of the embrocation cream, the clink of the changing of the gears its awesome.

You have to support your local races man despite the quickness of the moment passing

 

[The Cobra]

Another idea,not sure exactly how close you are but going to the start is great. Much more relaxed atmosphere than you get at the Tour. Riders will walk out the bus and be happy to sign stuff and get the photographs with you. I've got some good ones with Chris Froome from 2009 in his Barloworld days and Pippo in his Italian national champs kit. I remember there was a huge swarm around the Garmin bus to see Wiggo, while 10m away EBH, Lovkvist, Kirchen etc. were coming out the Columbia bus and no one gave a **** so had easy access to go talk to them.

Then you can drive out onto the course somewhere and watch them go past.

 

[MartinGT]

Another idea,not sure exactly how close you are but going to the start is great. Much more relaxed atmosphere than you get at the Tour. Riders will walk out the bus and be happy to sign stuff and get the photographs with you. I've got some good ones with Chris Froome from 2009 in his Barloworld days and Pippo in his Italian national champs kit. I remember there was a huge swarm around the Garmin bus to see Wiggo, while 10m away EBH, Lovkvist, Kirchen etc. were coming out the Columbia bus and no one gave a **** so had easy access to go talk to them.

Then you can drive out onto the course somewhere and watch them go past.

Aye, last season in Stoke we got chatting with Boom about CX riding, he then went to the start, shook our hands and said "Watch this" and pulled a massive wheelie

 

[will10]

On Monday I am going to head to Morridge to watch W̶i̶g̶g̶i̶n̶'̶s̶ ̶v̶ic̶t̶o̶r̶y̶ ̶l̶a̶p̶, I mean the Tour of Britain pass through. Going to try to get a spot near the top of the hill. Any idea what time I should aim to get there for, also I presume you just park in a nearby road (That is off the route obviously).

Race is scheduled to hit Morridge at 11:48. So what time should I get there - anyone have experience of these things

Thanks !

The stretch across the A53 at Flash was the most decisive part of the race last year - where Sky split the bunch in the crosswinds. If the race is on then Morridge is a good spot to watch

Oh, and take a coat. It's really exposed up there if the weather closes in .

 

[Reverend_T_Preedy]

I was thinking of heading to Stoke for the start and finish of stage 5. However, I worked out that would mean spending about 4 hours in a place which is a bit like Kabul but with a Tesco. What a dump!!!

I'm now going to head to one of the climbs en route to catch the race there.

If you can make it I'd say Caerphilly Mountain will be the best place to watch. 2 climbs of that with a 5km decent to the finish will surely be a decisive in the race.

 

[MartinGT]

I was thinking of heading to Stoke for the start and finish of stage 5. However, I worked out that would mean spending about 4 hours in a place which is a bit like Kabul but with a Tesco. What a dump!!!

I'm now going to head to one of the climbs en route to catch the race there.

If you can make it I'd say Caerphilly Mountain will be the best place to watch. 2 climbs of that with a 5km descent to the finish will surely be a decisive in the race.

Haha, Trentham gardens is nice though, albeit with a sh!t coffee shop.

 

[HiCadence]

They ride up my road on stage 2 whitch i'm really looking forward to.

 

[Mellow Velo]

Eurosport Asia have live coverage, too, it seems.
(Harmon spaketh, so I checked)
Which should mean live feeds for all bar Wednesday, when
it's the GP Wallonie.

 

[Pricey_sky]

Haha, Trentham gardens is nice though, albeit with a sh!t coffee shop.

Is Trentham gardens very big? never been there before but im still toying with the idea of watching the start of the race and maybe getting a few photos/autographs before.

 

[Froome19]

Hopefully I will make it to the finish of the race at Guildford next Sunday, should be absolutely incredible considering that it finishes on a cobbled climb.

 

[Pulpstar]

Finally got a spot worked out - Exposed & 13% on the climb to the 3rd KoM (Morridge) climb of the day. Could be nasty for the riders if there is a headwind.