Cycling: Tour de Manc passes through Rochdale

Date published: 06 May 2018

The Tour de Manc started at the David Lloyd Manchester North Club on Heywood Old Rd, Middleton at 7.30am Sunday (6 May), before passing through all ten Greater Manchester boroughs and back to the club.  

The Full Manc is just over 103 miles long, tours all 10 boroughs of Greater Manchester in an anti-clockwise direction and has around 8,700 ft. of climbing. There are a number of closed road sections including the King/Queen of the mountain prize section, which tackles the lung-busting Werneth Low.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The route went past Heaton Park, towards Agecroft, through Salford, past Old Trafford and Chorlton to Stockport, to Marple and starts climbing at Marple Bridge. After a 'warm up' climb, riders entered a closed road King/Queen of the mountain section which tackles the short, but steep Werneth Low climb, affording a sensational view of Manchester and a panorama of the hills to the North East and the North.

On through Tameside the riders climb over towards Saddleworth, passing through Uppermill and then on to Newhey, Milnrow, through Rochdale and the climb up Owd Betts, where the Half Manc splits off through the Ashworth Valley to Heywood and back to the finish.

The Full Manc continued through Holcombe before a tough climb to Belmont, Rivington, Bury and Heap Bridge and culminating back at the David Lloyd Manchester North Club.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tour de Manc was founded in 2015 by Danny Franks who came up with the idea of a charitable 'tough' sportive through all 10 Greater Manchester boroughs.

Tour de Manc has no employees and everything is done on a voluntary basis, with only necessary costs (such as event insurance, essential printing and materials manufacture) being deducted. There is no profiteering in any form and all surpluses are donated to registered charities. Tour de Manc is currently being registered as a charitable trust.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tour De Manc as it ascends over Owd Betts above Rochdale. Sunday 6 May 2018.
©Rochdale Online