South East England Development Agency (SEEDA)

It's Nearly Here: Countdown to Tour of Britain

30 August 2006

PREPARATIONS are nearing completion for one of the biggest events to hit Medway this year – the Tour of Britain cycle race.

This Saturday (2 September) dozens of top cyclists will be making their way through Medway as Rochester Castle Gardens hosts the start of the penultimate stage of the national race.

Already teams of international cyclists will have cycled through Scotland, the North West, Yorkshire and the West Midlands. The final stage, after Medway to Canterbury, will see them heading for London – the route in total is 516 miles.

Cyclists will make their way from the Castle gardens along Rochester High Street towards Star Hill before heading along the lower part of Chatham High Street towards Chatham.

The race runs through Medway Street, into Globe Lane and Dock Road before entering The Historic Dockyard, Chatham via the entrance in Dock Road.

The race moves through the dockyard in front of the covered slips before leaving the tourist attraction, approaching the roundabout that faces Medway Council's Compass Centre offices and the South East England Development Agency's (SEEDA's) Observatory building.

Riders will make their way back towards Chatham along Dock Road. When reaching the Pentagon Centre cyclists will use the bus lane to cross to Medway Street and then High Street.

From there they will cycle back towards Star Hill and back into Rochester High Street, before turning into Northgate, then Boley Hill and St Margaret's Street before heading towards Borstal and out of Medway.

The fifth stage will start in Rochester Castle Gardens at 10.30 am.

Medway Council's Portfolio Holder for Community Services Cllr Hoard Doe said: "Medway Council has been an active partner in bringing the Tour of Britain to Medway and we are very much looking forward to the race beginning its fifth leg in Medway before making its way to Canterbury.

"It will be a great opportunity for those keen on cycling or for others, including families wanting to make a day of it in Medway, to see top cyclists in action."

The South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) is also a partner in bringing the race to Kent. SEEDA's Head of Cultural Policy, Stella Bellem, said: "This exciting national sporting event will create greater potential to boost economic growth presenting the South East as a competitive, professional and desirable destination for hosting sports events.

"We aim to support this event over the next couple of years, working with other regeneration areas across the region which can profit from hosting such a world class event. Events such as the Tour of Britain help raise the profile of the area and enable us to maximise the sustainable opportunities that occur."

The route through Medway will take 16 international teams of cyclists past many local landmarks, beginning against the beautiful backdrop of Rochester Castle Gardens. The Castle, its Norman keep towering over the River Medway, is an exceptional setting for what promises to be a very special day.

The cyclists will pass the magnificent Rochester Cathedral, which recently celebrated its 1,400 th Anniversary, and then race through Rochester's distinctive High Street, past fascinating shops and historic buildings such as Eastgate House.

The race will enter The Historic Dockyard, Chatham moving past the historic warships and covered slips, before leaving via Western Avenue.

Visitors wishing to watch this section of the Tour of Britain from The Historic Dockyard, Chatham will be given free access to the site only for the duration of this section of the race. Normal admission prices will apply to visitors wishing to visit the galleries and attractions.

The race then returns to Chatham centre along Dock Road. Riders will then pass Fort Amherst, built in 1756 to protect the dockyard from landward attack.

It's fascinating network of underground chambers and tunnels was extended during the Napoleonic wars in the 1800s to house stores, magazines and barracks. There will be, of course, some rolling road closures during the race.

Roads will be closed immediately before the cyclists go through and will re-open again as soon as they have made their way through.

Anyone wanting to know more about how the race will affect roads in Medway on Saturday should contact the council's Traffic Management Manager Martin Morris on 01634 331148 or email martin.morris@medway.gov.uk. Media inquiries should be directed to Fay Coffin on 01634 332782 or email fay.coffin@medway.gov.uk

Anyone wanting to find out more general information about the race and attractions in Medway should phone Medway Visitor Information Centre on 01634 843666 or email vistor.centre@medway.gov.uk

Find out more about the Tour of Britain at www.medway.gov.uk or www.tourofbritain.co.uk