A host of events and activities is to be held in Burnham-On-Sea on Tuesday September 9th to mark 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.
Double gold medal winner Bradley Wiggins will be in town for the start of the South-West stage of the tour.
Wiggins won gold in the men’s individual pursuit and the men’s team pursuit, and will represent Team Columbia in the Tour of Britain. Among his team-mates in the six-rider team will be Mark Cavendish, who became the first British cyclist to win four stages of the Tour de France earlier this year.
Gold medallist Geraint Thomas, who competed with Wiggins in the team pursuit, will represent Barloworld. And Chris Newton, pictured above, who won bronze in the men’s individual pursuit, will cycle for the Rapha Condor team.
.What to watch and when:
From 10am, there will be a Farmers’ Market in the High Street along with presentation stalls & displays. The Quay West FM Roadshow will be in place with physical challenges and entertainment in Pier Street. A Historic Cycle Display will also be in place along Pier Street. The Burnham hovercraft station on the seafront will open to the public for a special open day.
From 11am, the Somerset Sapphires Majorettes will be action in Pier Street, along with the Project Romania Dancers and Monarch Gymnastics group.
At 1pm, British Cycling’s Go Ride display will be in Pier Street to help people learn cycling skills.
At 1.45pm there will be a arrival of a Massed Bike Ride in Marine Drive.
At 12.30pm, Burnham & Highbridge Town Band will be playing on the South Esplanade.
The main event will be at 2.45pm with the arrival of the Tour of Britain cyclists, which will last until around 3.30pm. This will be followed by presentations on the podium.
At 4pm, the Burnham Excellent Entertainment Society will be in action in Pier Street. Separately, the winners of a poster colouring competition, being organised by the Tourist Information Centre, will be announced.
At 5pm, this will be followed by the announcement of the Bike Hunt Competition winners in Pier Street.
A free Park and Ride scheme will be in operation throughout the day from Sanders Garden World, running from 10am to 5:30pm.
Win a bike:
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 Burnham-On-Sea Chamber of Trade. Local shops are taking part and entrants have to identify all those with bike parts and cycling equipment in their shop windows.
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 here and from the Town Council chambers and Tourist Information Centre.
Chamber Chairman Alex Turco said: “The Chamber has worked closely with the Town and county councils to deliver an exciting range of entertainment for this prestigious event. We very much hope that our free, fun bike hunt will attract lots of spectators into the town centre for the finish of the South West Stage.”
Councillor Alvin Horsfall, Somerset County Council’s Portfolio-Holder for Economic Development, told Burnham-On-Sea.com: “I’m very excited about the day. 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.”
Burnham-On-Sea.com exclusively reported in February 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.
.Road closures:
Marine Drive will be closed from 5am to 7pm. Residents will have ‘access only’ to the junction to Burnham Holiday Village (from the Burnham Road direction).
Abingdon Street will be one-way, running from the direction of Pier Street to Oxford Street.
Burnham Road and Church Street will also close as the race approaches. This closure will take effect from approximately 2pm – 3.15pm.
There will be a one-way system in place for all buses and coaches. They will be routed along The Esplanade, with a drop-off and pick-up area at Pier Street, and exit to Oxford Street via Abingdon Street.
.Parking
Burnham’s Lynton Road car park will be closed whilst Marine Drive is closed. Pier Street East car park (behind Somerfields) will be allocated to Tour vehicles and therefore closed to the public. Apex car park will be allocated for use by VIPs. There will be ‘no waiting’ in Burnham Road and no parking allowed in Church Street all day.
Therefore, visitors are encouraged to use the free park and ride service, which will be in operation from 10am and will run from Sanders Garden World to Pier Street. Buses will run approximately every twenty minutes.
RELATED LINKS:
Excitement grows as route of cycle race is announced
It’s official! Burnham is confirmed as the finish line for top cycle race
Exclusive: Burnham set to host Tour of Britain Cycle Race
