Tour of Britain 2014 to come through Stoke Gifford on 10th September

Bristol will play host to the end of the fourth stage of the Tour of Britain on Durdham Downs and spectators are encouraged to line the route throughout Bristol.   The riders will enter Bristol from the north before travelling over to the River  Avon, down the Portway and making their final ascent to the Downs.  You can download the fourth stage route and planner here. This shows that it is estimated that the lead cars will be coming down Beacon Lane and the Winterbourne B4057 at around 2.35pm. They will travel down the B4057 straight across onto Gypsy Patch Lane and left onto the A38, through Henbury and down onto the Portway.

There will be several crucial moments of the race which are recommended vantage points for all spectators.   The Portway is an excellent location to watch the riders jostle for position before attempting the long climb up Bridge Valley Road.   The climb itself will also prove crucial as the riders attempt to battle it out for the SKODA King of the Mountains jersey.

Circular Road, on Durdham Downs, is a must for anyone keen on catching some of the action and is where the stage winner will be decided and the medals presented. There will also be a whole host of other entertainment on the Downs throughout the day, including a live screening of the race, cycling organisations and information stalls as well as performances from groups like the Bicycle Ballet Company.

Pedestrians are encouraged to take care and ensure they watch the race from the relative safety of the footway and not by standing in the carriageway. Parts of Kings Weston Road have no footway so it s recommended that these areas are avoided.

Although the Portway will be closed inbound for the race, outbound traffic will be unaffected. It is recommended that no viewing takes place from the central reservation due to the danger of passing vehicles.

Bristol Mayor George Ferguson said: “I am delighted to have been able to attract the Tour of Britain to Bristol – it is a great way to show the city off in its best light and give a further lift to our cycling credentials.

“Whilst I hope that people are as enthused as I am about this event, I d like to remind all spectators to look after theirs and others safety. Most roads will only be closed temporarily and the cyclists need to be granted decent space. By sticking to the pedestrian areas and staying on the paths, everyone should be able to enjoy the event in safety. ”    

In preparation for the final finish on the Downs, several roads will be closed for the duration of the day. The following roads will be closed from 4am to 8pm on Wednesday 10 September:

• Circular Road
• Ladies Mile (From its junction with Stoke Road to its junction with Fountain Hill)
• Fountain Hill
• Rockleaze
• Downleaze

In addition, there will be rolling road closures throughout the city to facilitate the rest of the route.   The riders are estimated to start arriving in Bristol at around 2.45pm and are expected to have finished by around 3.30pm.   These temporary closures are estimated to last for around 20 minutes as the participants pass by each road on the route.   For a full list of all the roads that will be affected, please  visit the council website:  www.bristol.gov.uk/tourofbritain.

You can also find up-to-date travel information and the day s other entertainment on the council s website.

For more information on the route and to find out more about the other stages, head to the Tour of Britain website:  www.tourofbritain.co.uk/home