Our practical guide will help you enjoy the spectacle as the Tour de France comes through Essex.

Road closures:

The only roads that will be closed are those the route travels on. Other roads, such as cul-de-sacs connected to the route may be inaccessible but will still be open.

Roads will be closed from 7.30am to 4pm in Braintree and Uttlesford, or 8am to 5pm in Chelmsford.

Travel across the route will only be possible via the A120 as at this point the route crosses it via a bridge. There are no other locations at which the closed route can be crossed on the day, though there will be manned crossing points for pedestrians.

The Highways Agency is also closing both slip roads at junction 9a of the M11 northbound from 6am. Drivers will be directed onto the M11 southbound and exit at junction 8, but motorists should be aware congestion is likely from junctions 10 to 13 due to local road closures and event traffic.

Drivers are advised to choose in advance where to watch the race from and plan their journey, checking travel information before setting off early and allowing plenty of time.

The Highways Agency may add in some other temporary closures to manage traffic if congestion builds up on other roads.

Traffic modelling suggests it will not be possible to watch the start in Cambridge and use the M11 to then catch the race further along the route.

Parking:

• Finchingfield – Spain’s Hall (cycle parking available) and the Pony Field off B1057

• Rayne – Great Notley Country Park (opens at 6.30am and will close when full, £5)

• Great Saling Village Hall (cycle parking available)

• Wethersfield Sports Field (cycle parking available)

• Wethersfield – Boydells Dairy Farm

• Felsted – total of five car parks around the village

• Chelmsford – Melbourne Park

• Chelmsford – High Chelmer (reduced daily rate)

• Great Waltham Cricket Club (no overnight parking or camping)

• Roxwell – Recreation Ground (£5 charge)

• Howe Street – at junction of Hyde Hall Road and Chatham Hall Lane (£5 charge)

Public transport:

In total 24 bus services will be affected between 7.30am-5pm, with 13 services not running and others severely disrupted.

Major delays are expected on services that are still running and revised timetables also being put in place. Park and Ride in Chelmsford is not affected by the race.

Details of the bus services affected can be found at the Le Tour Essex website.

The nearest train stations to the route are at Braintree (40 minute walk to the route), or Chelmsford (a 20 minute walk).

Toilets:

• Finchingfield village green

• Wethersfield

• Rayne Cricket Club car park

• Great Waltham, South Street

• St Andrews Church, Chelmsford (including accessible toilet)

• Admirals Park, Chelmsford screen site (including accessible toilet)

• Walnut Tree Meadow, Roxwell

Medical facilities:

• Finchingfield at The Fox Inn

• Wethersfield (circulating on foot)

• Rayne Cricket Club car park

• Felsted (circulating on foot)

• St Andrews Church, Chelmsford

• Admirals Park, Chelmsford

• near St Michaels Church, Roxwell

Cycling glossary:

Breakaway: An advance group of riders split from the peloton

Broom wagon: The back of the race, a van which “sweeps up” riders falling behind the time limit

Caravan: The procession of floats and vehicles ahead of the race giving out freebies to spectators along the route

Chase group: A group of riders between the breakaway and the peloton

Green jersey: Leader of the sprint competition. There is a sprint in Epping within the Essex part of stage three

Peloton: The main bunch of riders

Polka dot jersey: Leader of the King of the Mountains, rider with the most points in the climbing competition

White jersey: The leading overall young rider, aged 26 or under

Yellow jersey: The overall race leader

Riders to watch out for:

• Mark Cavendish – Top sprinter for Omega Pharma-Quick Step, the Manx rider could do well on the relatively flat stage and will want to be in contention for the sprint points at Epping

• Alberto Contador – Winner in 2007, the Spanish rider with Tinkoff-Saxo is joint favourite with the bookies to win this year’s overall race

• Chris Froome – last year’s winner, the Brit spearheading Team Sky is joint favourite to win the 101st race along with Alberto Contador

• Nairo Quintana – last year’s King of the Mountains and best young rider, the Colombian Movistar rider gave Chris Froome a fight during the 2013 Tour