Rochdale’s Tour of Britain race route announced

The Tour of Britain

The 2010 Tour of Britain race route through Rochdale has been revealed.

96 of the world’s top cyclists are heading to Rochdale on 11 September for the start of the tough sporting spectacular and the impressive Grade 1 listed Town Hall has been chosen as the backdrop to the starting line.

The 16 teams of professional cyclists, including British road cycling team, Team Sky, will make their way from the town centre heading up Drake Street before turning onto Manchester Road and down towards the new Sixth Form College.

The cyclists will speed along St Mary’s Gate and turn left up Spotland Road, passing Saint Clement Church.

They’ll then gear up for the true start of the race at the junction of Ings Lane and Edenfield Road, where the strongest riders will break away and start their challenge for the winners’ Yellow Jersey.

From this point onwards the cyclists will be vying for overall position but for those who specialise in sprinting, Norden is the place where they’ll be able to demonstrate their speed as the village has been chosen for the first Sprint of the race.

There are three sprints built into each stage of the race so the first of the 2010 race is certain to be hotly contested with cyclists competing to wear the coveted red, white and blue Sprint Jersey.

After the Sprint the cyclists will continue along Edenfield Road heading to Rawtenstall and Waterfoot before skirting Burnley and racing through Padiham on the way north to Blackpool, where the 131km first stage of the race finishes on the seafront.

Councillor Keith Swift, Rochdale Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Skills and Economic Recovery, said: “This is a fantastic coup for Rochdale. The Tour is the biggest free to watch sporting event in the country and I hope people come out to line the route and cheer the riders on.

“The Tour will raise Rochdale’s profile throughout the world thanks to international media coverage, so it’s important we put on a great event that really showcases Rochdale and its fantastic Pennine setting.

“In the coming weeks we’ll be unveiling activities that will be taking place on race day in Rochdale town centre too so everyone can make the most of the borough hosting this brilliant event.”