Going to watch a Stage on the Tour of Britain?
Going to watch a Stage on the Tour of Britain?
Author
Discussion

GuinnessMK

Original Poster:

1,608 posts

251 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
As Le Tour is starting in Yorkshire next year, I want to go and watch a stage. So I thought I'd try to see what it's like on this years Tour of Britain.

Thinking of going to watch the Sprint at Newcastleton on Sunday. http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/stages/stage1/scotl...

either there or up at the top of the cat 2 climb before then.

Any hints or tips?

Some Gump

13,018 posts

215 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
I'm doing my first visit too, but have chosen the top of the first kom on the stoke stage.
Not only can i ride there (70 miles away), but i'll see the, for a lot longer than at a sprint point - even a casual club run zips past quickly, i'm guessing a tob peloton will be past waay too fast...

Umberway

167 posts

250 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
Yup.
The stage in Devon, I'll be at the top of Mamhead, then after they pass by, cycle like bejizzery to the finish at the top of Haytor to see them again.
I may have to blast past Quintana to get there before him ;-)

Any tips? Dunno really, don't wear a mankini?

Raoul Duke

938 posts

192 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
Umberway said:
Yup.
The stage in Devon, I'll be at the top of Mamhead, then after they pass by, cycle like bejizzery to the finish at the top of Haytor to see them again.
I may have to blast past Quintana to get there before him ;-)

Any tips? Dunno really, don't wear a mankini?
Hope your fast! Reckon they will be up the Teign Valley and back down the Morton to Bovey road rather swiftly... Your only hope is that they take it easy up Doccombe!
Will be up on Haytor myself that day, but planning on getting there early to secure a good view.
Have a few decent Strava segments on that route which are going to be annihilated as they pass through!
hehe

Gareth1974

3,478 posts

168 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
I want to watch a stage last year, but the mistake I made was to choose a viewing point at a fairly early point of the stage, and entire field passed me in about 30 seconds. Maybe aim to watch near the end of the stage so they are more spread out?

Umberway

167 posts

250 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
Raoul Duke said:
Hope your fast! Reckon they will be up the Teign Valley and back down the Morton to Bovey road rather swiftly... Your only hope is that they take it easy up Doccombe!
Will be up on Haytor myself that day, but planning on getting there early to secure a good view.
Have a few decent Strava segments on that route which are going to be annihilated as they pass through!
hehe
Well it's downhill from Mamhead, then a flat blast to Bovey. Should be fine. Will undoubtedly be chaos towards the finish though.

Think it was 2 years ago I saw them 4 times! Exeter, Moretonhampstead, Warren House Inn, then Broadclyst. Was great fun chasing them around Devon. Got applauded twice by schoolchildren who thought I was part of the tour :-)

covmutley

3,360 posts

219 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
Got the day off to see the Wales stage. . Will probably ride from Cardiff up to Caerphilly mountain.

Raoul Duke

938 posts

192 months

Thursday 12th September 2013
quotequote all
Umberway said:
Well it's downhill from Mamhead, then a flat blast to Bovey. Should be fine. Will undoubtedly be chaos towards the finish though.

Think it was 2 years ago I saw them 4 times! Exeter, Moretonhampstead, Warren House Inn, then Broadclyst. Was great fun chasing them around Devon. Got applauded twice by schoolchildren who thought I was part of the tour :-)
True enough, and Mamhead should make good viewing too, so a fast peddle down to Chudleigh then across to Bovey and you'll be fine, so long as the traffic is kind.
Good effort managing to see them four times! We were a bit less organised that year but caught them at Haytor then Exmouth with time for tea in-between. Given how good Dartmoor has been the last couple of years, having the climb as the finish this time, Haytor's going to be immense!

Fluffsri

3,411 posts

225 months

Friday 13th September 2013
quotequote all
Yep popping across to Farnham on 21st.

Jonnny

29,897 posts

218 months

Friday 13th September 2013
quotequote all
Will be at the Epsom-Guildford stage.. Hoping to get to Normandy for 14:40, a tight corner so hopefully get a good look, then over to the high street for the sprint finish at 15:45.


murray

414 posts

312 months

Friday 13th September 2013
quotequote all
Riding the Sidmotuh to Haytor stage tomorrow with the club which should be good fun.

Gren

2,030 posts

281 months

Friday 13th September 2013
quotequote all
Jonnny said:
Will be at the Epsom-Guildford stage.. Hoping to get to Normandy for 14:40, a tight corner so hopefully get a good look, then over to the high street for the sprint finish at 15:45.
Did the high street last year - 6 deep most of the way up. You'll need to get there a couple of hours early to get a view....unless you're tall that is.

This year we're cycling up to the heathland just south of Sunningdale where there is a vague hint of a slope and not much likelihood of crowds. Perfect also in that it's in the middle of a 25 mile XC loop that me and the missus often ride.

Gargamel

16,366 posts

290 months

Friday 13th September 2013
quotequote all
Fluffsri said:
Yep popping across to Farnham on 21st.
Will be going through my village about 200 yards from where I live.




Kermit power

29,622 posts

242 months

Friday 13th September 2013
quotequote all
If I do, I'll ride over to Bike Beans Café in Ashtead to watch the Epsom to Guildford stage go past, as they'll be laying on lots of stuff other than just the 30 seconds of cyclists. I think it's still in the neutral zone, which paradoxically might make better viewing, as they'll be going slower and bunched together! hehe

I went to the final stage in Guildford last year, and whilst it was fun being 50 yards from the finish line with Cav barreling up the hill like his arse was on fire, I'm not sure it was worth the 3 hours standing on the High Street waiting for them!

The year before was a bit better, as the final day was laps in central London, so we got to see them go past several times, and it was nice being able to walk round the team buses watching what was going on there, but even so, without extra activity around it, I'd say it's a sport designed for TV! ITV coverage already set to record. smile

mudshark

94 posts

167 months

Friday 13th September 2013
quotequote all
I live near Leatherhead and they'll be going past the end of my road so might watch them there but will cycle to a few points. Last year we raced around trying to see them as many times as possible culminating in watching them go up the local horror that is Barhatch Lane.

Highway Star

3,615 posts

260 months

Saturday 14th September 2013
quotequote all
I'll be at the side of the road tomorrow as my in-laws are about 2 miles from the route. Was thinking of going to the Cat 2 climb at Lime Kiln Edge, but it's not that hard a climb and there is a long uphill stretch about 3 miles before that, the top of which is at the junction with the road down which my in-laws live, so will stroll down to that instead. Mankini is being ironed today!

Gretchen

19,789 posts

245 months

Saturday 14th September 2013
quotequote all
Kermit power said:
I went to the final stage in Guildford last year, and whilst it was fun being 50 yards from the finish line with Cav barreling up the hill like his arse was on fire, I'm not sure it was worth the 3 hours standing on the High Street waiting for them!

Were you not part of the VIP guests? I went with Johnny and had a fantastic time. We lunched with the Mayor/Mayoress and their entourage as they joined our table. They were lovely people, very friendly. All food & drink was complimentary. And we got to meet Jon Tiernan-Locke as well as others.

Plus some of the teams were staying at The Raddison were we were too.

I thought it was an enjoyable day. Watching them come up the cobbles was painful.


BPC7

391 posts

266 months

Saturday 14th September 2013
quotequote all
Group of us are riding up to Barhatch Lane/Road whatever it is to watch, this will probably be where the riders are at their slowest lol

cupofbeans

1,631 posts

204 months

Saturday 14th September 2013
quotequote all
It looks like grim weather for tomorrow morning. frown

craigthecoupe

1,071 posts

233 months

Saturday 14th September 2013
quotequote all
devon stage for me. i'll watch the start, and the finish, but doubt i can see anything in between.