A host of events and activities is to be held in Burnham-On-Sea on September 9th to celebrate the arrival of the world’s best cyclists, including British Olympic Gold medal winners, as they race into the town to complete the South West Stage of the Tour of Britain.
At Marine Drive, where the race is set to end at around 2.45pm, huge crowds are expected to cheer the cyclists as they glide past at over 40mph.
The day’s entertainment starts at 11.30am with a Romanian dancing troupe, the Monarchs gymnastics team and Somerset Sapphires baton twirlers.
British Cycling’s Go Ride will be there to help people learn cycling skills and take part in games, and there will be a huge simultaneous ride over the finish line by local school children.
Pier Street will become one-way and half of the street will accomodate stalls and a live stage.
Visitors can sample Somerset produce, take part in physical challenges and get a free health check. An all-day Farmers Market will also take place on the High Street.
Also, a brand new bike worth £450 awaits the winner of the ‘Bike Hunt’ competition, which runs from 6th-9th September and is being organised by the Chamber of Trade. Local shops are taking part and entrants have to identify all those with bike parts and cycling equipment. The winner will be drawn at 5pm on race day from the main stage and will be awarded a Giant Defy 4 bike supplied by The Bicycle Chain. Entry forms can be obtained from the Town Council chambers and the Tourist Information Centre.
Entry forms can also be collected on the free Park and Ride coaches that Somerset County Council has organised from Sanders Garden World, running from 10am to 5:30pm.
Councillor Alvin Horsfall, Somerset County Council’s Portfolio-Holder for Economic Development, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I’m very excited about the day, which is not far away now. I hope that people get there early and enjoy all the fantastic things there are to do. It promises to be one of the best days of the year for Somerset.”
Somerset County Council is hosting the South West stage of the Tour of Britain which will start in Chard and finish in Burnham. The race, which is the toughest stage of the Tour, is expected to attract thousands of visitors to the County.
As reported by Burnham-On-Sea.com last week, participants include Beijing Olympic gold medal winners Bradley Wiggins and Geraint Thomas, who will be joined in Somerset by Mark Cavendish, the only Briton to win four stages of the Tour de France in a single year.
Burnham-On-Sea.com exclusively reported in February – two months before local newspapers – that our town would be chosen as the finishing spot for the race on September 9th. The race is set to start in the south of Somerset in Chard. Digital TV channel ITV4 will be broadcasting extensive coverage of the race, along with regional and international television channels.
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