Spectators are being encouraged to line the streets to catch a glimpse of the Aviva Women’s Tour Stage One as it speeds through Suffolk later this month.
The race is due to be fast-paced and large crowds are expected to turn-out to watch so people are asked to choose a safe place to witness the ride across June 17 and 18.
This year’s route starts at Angel Hill, Bury St Edmunds, at 11am on June 17. It will then head through Stowmarket and drop down towards Ipswich.
The run to the coastline continues east through Woodbridge and Saxmundham and into the Suffolk Coastal district.
The final stretch will see the peloton travel along the seafront from Thorpeness down to the finish line in Aldeburgh, with the final three kilometres of the race on straight, open roads alongside Aldeburgh Beach and the North Sea. Riders are due to start crossing the Stage One finish line at Market Cross, Aldeburgh, at 1.50pm.
Organisers have suggested a number of viewing spots to safely see the elite riders pass:
Bury St Edmunds
Angel Hill, Crown Street, St Mary’s Square, Westgate Street, St Andrew Street North, St Andrew Street South, Risbygate Street, Newmarket Road, Western Way, Beetons Way, Tollgate Lane, Fornham Road, Northgate Street, Eastgate Street
Stowmarket
Finborough Road, Tavern Street, Gipping Way, Navigation Approach, Mortimer Road, Stowmarket Road -
Stowupland
Church Road, A1120 Bell’s Lane
Stonham
A1120
Pettaugh
Ipswich Way
Crowfield
Ipswich Road
Hemingstone
Queen of the Mountain Climb
Ipswich
High Street, Museum Street, The waterfront, Sprint – outside Kesgrave High School
Woodbridge
Shire Hall, Sprint – Melton Hill (nr Coach and Horses Pub)
Snape
Snape Maltings, Queen of the Mountain – from the bridge in Snape
Leiston
High Street
Thorpeness
The mere
Aldeburgh
Moot Hall
Stage Two of the Aviva Women’s Tour comes back into Suffolk on June 18 and some of best places to view the race are listed below:
Sudbury
Ballington Street, Gregory Street, Girling Street, Newton Road
Newton
A1071 Boxford Lane
Boxford
School Hill, Church Street, Sand Hill
Hadleigh
A1071, B1070, High Street
Upper Layham, Raydon, Holton, East Bergholt
B1070
Brantham
A137
Ahead of the launch, people in Bury St Edmunds are invited to an evening of free entertainment in Charter Square on June 16.
There will be cycle-themed activities taking place in the Arc shopping centre from 2pm to 4pm.
At 5.20pm, Suffolk soprano Laura Wright will open the team presentation event, and from 5.30pm onwards teams will be appearing on stage in the shopping centre in front of crowds.
As each team is presented on stage, pupil representatives from 16 Bury St Edmunds primary schools will give their ‘adopted’ teams good luck banners they have made specially.
For more on the Women’s Tour, including route maps, team news and more, see here
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