by Sam Hawcroft and John Prince
Towns and villages across Holderness are all set to give the Tour of Britain a colourful welcome as one of the biggest free-to-watch sporting events in the country races through the area this Friday.
Stage three of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men will start at East Park in Hull on Friday, September 4, before heading east – taking in Hedon, Withernsea, Hornsea and surrounding villages – and then turning inland before the finish at Beverley.
Bunting, flags, decorated bikes and family activities are being planned right along the route as communities prepare to mark the occasion.
The professional riders will pass through quickly, but parish councils, community groups and residents are hoping to make the most of the national spotlight, with the race televised and thousands of spectators likely to line parts of the route.
People travelling on Friday are also being urged to plan ahead. Dozens of advisory signs have gone up along roads on the route warning of delays between 10am and 1pm, while some signs also state that parked vehicles will be towed.
In a statement, East Riding Council said: “To ensure the safety of riders, race officials and support vehicles, temporary parking suspensions will be required at various locations along the route, particularly in built-up areas where road widths are restricted.
“Where parking suspensions are in place, vehicles will not be permitted to park on sections of highway forming part of the race route.
“Signs will be erected this week to warn of parking suspensions on affected roads, and parking will be suspended from midnight on the day of the race, with ‘no waiting at any time’ cones placed on the affected roads, until the race has passed.
“Vehicles parked within suspended areas may need to be removed to ensure the safe operation of the event.”
The race day will begin in Hull, where the Lloyds Tour of Britain Family Cycling Festival will take place at East Park from 11am to 2pm after the elite men’s race has departed.
The free festival will offer cycling-themed activities for all ages and abilities, including the chance to ride in a safe, traffic-free environment. People are encouraged to bring their own bikes, though a limited number will be available to hire, including adapted bikes.
Cllr Jackie Dad, Hull City Council’s deputy leader and portfolio holder for culture, said: “There will be an incredible buzz in East Park as we watch the professionals set off, and then it is time for our own residents to take to the circuit.
“It’s a completely free day out that celebrates the joy of cycling, and I hope to see families from every corner of the city joining us to enjoy the activities.”
In Hedon, the Tour’s first major Holderness destination, families are being invited to take part in a Bike Bling & Noise-Maker Fanfare at Hedon Methodist Church & Community Hub in Church Lane from 9.30am to 10.30am.
Children and families will be able to decorate bikes, trikes and scooters, with free refreshments, crafts, wooden football clackers, metal cowbells and prizes for the best-decorated bikes. The group will then parade to Baxtergate to line the route and cheer the riders through.
Community manager Seonaid Atkinson said: “We wanted to create something that families could really get involved in and make the Tour of Britain passing through Hedon a memorable occasion for our community.
“The riders will pass through very quickly, so we want to make sure that, for those few moments, Hedon makes plenty of noise and shows just how much community spirit we have.”
Thorngumbald is also planning to make a day of it, with people invited to gather at the village hall for food, refreshments, stalls, crafts and more as the race passes through the parish on its way from Hull to Beverley.
In Preston, flags and bunting have been bought for residents and businesses to decorate premises along the route, which includes Wyton Road, Main Street and Station Road.
There will be prizes for the two best-decorated houses or premises, as well as prizes for children for the best-decorated bike or fancy dress. Medals will also be available for children, and the community hall will be open for refreshments and toilet facilities on Friday morning.
Keyingham is also getting into the spirit, with volunteers including resident Linda Reed making roadside banners to put on the grass verges to celebrate the race passing through the village.
In Ottringham, residents are being invited to gather at the village hall from 10am to give the riders a “huge village welcome” as they race through at about 11.04am.
Free breakfast rolls for Ottringham residents are being supplied by Mam, Ah’m ’ere Pizzeria, and free bike lights will be available for village children to have fitted to their bikes, while Union Jack bunting will decorate the A1033.
Patrington and Winestead are also hoping to create a colourful welcome, with the parish council asking for volunteers, old bicycles to borrow for displays and help decorating the villages with cycling-themed bunting and flags.
In Withernsea, mayor Cllr Kristina Richardson has been working with Darren and Marie England to gather bunting and flags, supported by local shops. Withernsea Town Council’s grounds team will install decorations in the run-up to the race.
Cllr Richardson has also partnered with Laura Lazenby, of Personal 4 U Event Decor, to install balloon decorations, with an additional feature being created by local resident Leah Masters.
She said there had been wider support from Blue Light Weekend and Townsmart, which has been focusing on sprucing up the route through the town. Cllr Jon Dimberline has also helped gain temporary permission to decorate the vacant Betfred and Coral shops in Queen Street.
Cllr Richardson said: “I have lots of exciting things lined up to help make the day feel special, from flag decorating and crafts to decorations on the route.
“Thank you to every single person getting involved, contributing and supporting. Withernsea is the definition of community and this is another prime example of our incredible town.”
After it leaves Withernsea, the Tour will continue up the winding B1242 towards Hornsea, passing through Roos village to the bottleneck at Aldbrough around 11.30am and arriving at Hornsea at about 11.40am.
Anyone who has ever driven along the road will know it is scattered with tight turns, including a hairpin bend and a couple of short hill climbs – things not often seen in Holderness.
There are no official events planned by Hornsea Town Council ahead of the race, but it is expected there will be a strong turnout as the approach is along Southgate, which is largely residential, before skirting around the town centre.
Two of the trickiest parts of the route for the riders when they get to Hornsea will be at the Old Bridge Road, Tesco and Market Place roundabouts, where they take a sharp right turn up towards another tight bend at Mill Lane, then on to Atwick Road.
After a long, relatively straight run, the bikes are expected to arrive at Skipsea at 11.54am before heading to Burton Agnes, avoiding Bridlington, and out of Holderness.
Even though there is no official celebration in Hornsea, businesses are taking part in Fiver Friday, where participating shops and cafes offer deals for £5 on the first Friday of the month.
As the promotion coincides with the race, business owners are encouraging spectators to have a look around town and snap up a bargain.
St Nicholas Parish Hall will be holding a cycling quiz from 10am and offering quiche salad for £5. It will also be giving away free scones with jam and butter and a hot drink until 1pm.
At the finish in Beverley, the Westwood will host the Tour Village, featuring the finish line, podium presentation, a freestyle mountain bike show, family cycle try-out sessions, a supervised cycling skills track, a pump track course and a freestyle airbag landing.
Cllr Anne Handley, leader of East Riding Council, said: “We’re delighted that Beverley Westwood will host the Tour Village as part of the Tour of Britain, giving residents and visitors the chance to experience the excitement of one of the country’s biggest sporting events.
“It promises to be a wonderful day for the town and a great opportunity to showcase the East Riding to a national audience.”
More information about the route, road timings and event details is available from East Riding Council and British Cycling.