TOUR OF BRITAIN GRAND DEPART
6 SEPTEMBER 2015
The Tour of Britain will start from the Green in Beaumaris at 11.00 am on Sunday 6 September 2015. The start marks the culmination of the two week 'Ride Anglesey' Festival of Cycling on Anglesey. On this page we have gathered together information to help you enjoy the start and the events leading up to it. For a full events list click here
This is the best information we have at the time of writing and will be updated from time to time. Please check back in case of changes. Last updated: 28 August 2015
'RIDE ANGLESEY' - FESTIVAL OF CYCLING
EVENTS
23 August
TOUR DE MON
A one day cycling tour of Anglesey starting in Holyhead and with an opportunity to cycle a timed measured mile along the length of the RAF Valley runway. The keenest riders will tackle a 100 miles circuit that takes in the Menai Bridge and has a refreshement stop in Beaumaris. For the less energetic there are smaller laps of 75 miles and 40 miles. Over 1000 riders have entered already. Full details are available on the organiser's web site (click here)
25 August
CRAFTERS' CORNER BIKE DECORATION
A free event at the Canolfan Beaumaris. For information on Crafters Corner click here
30 August
TAITH DE TEULU
A free fun event for all the family. A short 5 mile ride around Amlwch (click here)
1 September
CRAFTERS' CORNER BIKE DECORATION
A free event at the Canolfan Beaumaris. For information on Crafters Corner click here
5 September
RIDE THE TOUR
Your chance to get a taste of what the professional cyclists experience. Ride around the route that the Tour of Britain will follow from the start on The Green through Benllech, Llangefni and Menai Bridge returning to Beaumaris through Garth Bends. For the more enthusiastic there is an opportunity to ride two laps making a ride of 66 miles. Full details are available on the organiser's web site. (click here)
BICYCLE FAIR AT CANOLFAN BEAUMARIS
Beaumaris Leisure Centre - The Canolfan are hosting a Cycle Market to coincide with Ride The Tour and Grand Depart. Its a great opportunity to browse and pick up a bicycling bargain or two. If you are new to cycling and the excitement of the weekend has got you hooked why not hire a bike and go for a ride. Further details will appear on their own website (click here)
6 September
GRAND DEPART
120 riders representing 20 teams will assemble on Beaumaris Green for the Grand Depart of the 2015 Aviva Tour of Britain. Stage 1 of Britain's biggest professional cycling race will start at 11.00 am. Watch the cyclists process around the green, past the castle and along Castle Street before turning right up Church Street and along Wexham Street towards Llansadwrn. Competitive racing begins at Llansadwrn. Riders then head to Benllech, through Llangefni to Menai Bridge where they cross into Gwynedd and head to the first sprint at Llanberis and first King of the Mountains climb at Pen y Pass. Full details of this and other stages can be found on the official tour website (click here)
BICYCLE FAIR AT CANOLFAN BEAUMARIS
Beaumaris Leisure Centre - The Canolfan are hosting a Bicycle Fair to coincide with the Grand Depart. Its a great opportunity to browse while waiting for the main event or why not pop along after the cyclists have left and pick up a bargain or two. If you are new to cycling and the excitement of the day has got you hooked why not hire a bike and go for a ride. Further details will appear on their own website (click here)
WATCH THE STAGE ON A BIG SCREEN
The Canolfan are showing the ITV coverage of the stage on a big screen in the Canolfan. Coverage starts at 13.00 (when the cyclists should be at Betws y Coed).
INFORMATION FOR RESIDENTS
Such a big event cannot be brought to the town without some disruption. In particular parts of the green will have to be closed in the couple of days before the event so that they can be cleared of parked vehicles ready for Sunday morning.
CONGESTION
We can expect around 5000 visitors in town on the morning of the event. There will inevitably be congestion on the main routes into town as spectators take up position from about 08.00 onwards. Menai Bridge will be very busy. Expect queues in both directions on the road through Garth Bends. Some visitors will come into town along the B5109 so expect hold-ups on the narrow parts of Wexham Street.
ROAD CLOSURES
Alma Street, The Sea Front and Green Edge will be closed to all but official event traffic from 04.00 till 14.00 on Sunday 6 September. On Street parking in this area will be suspended from 00.01 on the Sunday. There is a risk that cars left in this area may be towed away by the event organisers.
Castle Street, Church Street, Wexham Street and Red Hill are on the race route. Expect these roads to be closed to traffic between about 10.30 and 11.30 on the day of the race.
ON STREET PARKING RESTRICTIONS
The impact of the race on on-street parking has been minimised. To ensure the safety of riders the six or seven parking spaces outside 2 - 10 Wexham Street will be suspended. Other parking in Wexham Street and Church Street will operate as normal.
There is a risk that any car causing an obstruction may be removed by the race organisers.
Parking in Castle Street between Church Street and the Castle is likely to be suspended.
PARKING ON THE GREEN
The biggest impact will be on parking on the green. Parking will be as normal on Saturday except that some areas will be closed to vehicles. The Central Road will be closed to parking from Friday till Sunday afternoon. The hard standing alongside the other green roads will have to be cleared by Saturday evening to make room for event vehicles on Sunday. A small part of the main green will have to be cordoned off to make a spectator area adjacent to the start line.
Apart from the spectator parking area the green will be closed for parking between 04.00 and 12.00 on 6 September. The central triangle and stones area will be made available for residents who normally leave their cars on the green overnight. However it will not be possible to leave these areas until after 12.00 on the day of the race.
INFORMATION FOR SPECTATORS
If you have been to a big bike race before you will know that it is best to arrive early. If this is your first time be prepared for traffic queues and plan to arrive in good time. If you are not there by 10.00 you may be too late. There is lots to see: the teams will be arriving from about 09.00 so why not spend some time spotting your cycling heroes. From about 10.00 the teams will 'sign on' on the event stage on the sea front.
GETTING HERE
All spectator traffic will be directed along the A545 from Menai Bridge. The B5109 from Pentraeth through Llansadwrn and down Allt Goch will be closed to all but local traffic.
From Menai Bridge along the A545.
Either cross the Britannia Bridge or Menai Bridge and head through the town of Menai Bridge towards Beaumaris. You will be directed through the town along the High Street (Castle Street) to the parking areas.
Road Closure From Pentraeth and Llansadwrn along the B5109.
This route will be closed to spectator traffic to allow emergency vehicles unhindered access to Beaumaris and the villages of Llandgoed, Llandonna, Penmon etc.
Marshalls at Pentraeth and Llansadwrn will be directing spectators through Menai Bridge.
PARKING
The following parking areas will available to the public and are expected to open from about 08.00 on the day of the race.
THE MAIN GREEN.
Because the green roads are shut entrance to the parking will be along what is normally the exit road (opposite Happy Valley). Please follow the instructions of the marshals. Access to this area will be closed about 30 minutes before the start as the exit road is part of the race route.
The normal £3 parking fee will be charged.
CASTLE MEADOW
Thanks to the generosity of Sir Richard Williams-Bulkeley part of Castle Meadow is being made available for spectator parking. Follow the signs and marshal's directions. A fee of £3 will be charged which will go towards supporting the Canolfan Beaumaris.
There will be no on-street parking around the green on the day of the event. Alma Street, The Sea Front and Green Edge will be closed to traffic from about 04.00.
There is no overnight parking for camper-vans or caravans on the green.
AFTER THE EVENT
The race caravan of team and event cars will take a while to clear the town. Because of the risk of congestion in Menai Bridge many team vehicles will not be leaving until 12.00. Do not plan on being able to leave by car much before 11.30.
But why rush away. Beaumaris has lots to offer the visitor including some great cafes, tea shops, pubs and restaurants. Stay for lunch then finish off the day with an afternoon visiting the Castle or crabbing from the pier.
WATCH AGAIN?
The planned route provides an opportunity to see the riders again as they pass through Menai Bridge and over the suspension bridge (about 12.00). However the A545 through Garth Bends is expected to be busy. If you are keen to watch again you might be best advised to bring your own bike and cycle to Menai Bridge.
Alternatively you could stay and watch the live coverage of the race between Betws y Coed and Wrexham on a big screen at the Canolfan