This Tour will become the biggest-ever sporting event to take place on Isle of Wight soil when the race finishes here on Sunday 11 September. Stage 8 promises unforgettable experiences for riders and fans alike, owing to the spectacular 150-kilometre route from Ryde to The Needles. Not only will the route showcase the island to a worldwide TV audience – Newport as well as Ryde are on the route plus Cowes, Sandown, Shanklin, Totland, Ventnor and Yarmouth all feature – fans will be able to catch the race in multiple locations owing to the way it loops around the Island but remember that there will be rolling road blocks as the race goes through each area so travelling will not be as easy as usual. This year’s race culminates with a two-kilometre climb up to Tennyson Down,(The Needles) the final 400 metres of which average a gradient of 9.6%, making it the toughest ending to any Tour of Britain in modern history.
It is hoped that Girlguding IW members will meet with others in their units, perhaps joining with other units in their area, so that those watching the race on TV Worldwide will know that Girlguiding is very active on the Island.
The 2022 Tour of Britain, which stars in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire on Sunday 4 September and finishes on the Isle of Wight eight days later, will once again feature a world-class field.
Teams are:
Bardiani CSF Faizanè -Italy
Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB-Belgium
BORA – hansgrohe-Germany
Caja Rural – Seguros RGA-Spain
Global 6 Cycling-New Zealand
The Great Britain Cycling Team – GB
Human Powered Health -USA
INEOS Grenadiers -GB
Israel – Premier Tech-Israel
Movistar Team-Spain
Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling -GB
Saint Piran,-GB (Cornwall)
Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise-Belgium
Team DSM-Germany
Team Qhubeka-Italy
TRINITY Racing-GB
Uno-X Pro Cycling Team -Norway
Wiv SunGod-GB.
The Isle of Wight Council has provided further information about AJ Bell Tour of Britain traffic arrangements after road signs were put out along the race route.
The signs give motorists advance warning of the road closures that are required during the race (September 11) to ensure the safety of riders and spectators. The signs also provide a reminder that cars need to be removed from the course well before the race starts.
However, the road closure time on the signs (11.00am to 3.30pm) is the overall period within which a rolling road closure will be in place. This rolling road closure itself will be for a maximum of up to 30 minutes to an hour — much shorter than the timings shown in the notice.
Alex Minns, the council’s assistant director for neighbourhoods, said: “Because it is a live sporting event, it is difficult to predict the exact times during which the rolling road closures will come into effect.
Therefore, the official road closure is for a general period within which we are confident the race will be completed. In reality, the actual road closure will be much shorter than the general time shown on the signs.”
Only the start and finish points, Ryde seafront and the section between Chale and the Needles will be subject to longer road closures.
The signs also highlight the need for cars to be removed from the race route from 0001 and 23.59 on September 11. The council is however asking that residents move their cars from 6pm on September 10 although they will be allowed to park on the route again once the race has finished.
Alex added, “The signs show the legal times when a clearway will be in place and therefore cars will have to be removed, But obviously if residents are able to move their cars earlier then it would be really helpful — that’s why we have asked them to move them from 6pm on Saturday 10. In reality, they will also be able to return their cars to the clearway once the race has ended.”
Cars left on the race route during the clearway period will be removed.