Taunton to host Tour of Britain

By marion_TLocal | Friday, May 13, 2011, 11:26

Stage six of Britain's biggest professional cycle race The Tour of Britain will start in the centre of Taunton on Friday September 16th, finishing in Wells.

The Tour of Britain comes to Taunton in September

This will be the fifth and last hosting of the race in Somerset after the County Council decide not to support it after this year.

This will be the first stage to have been entirely hosted in Somerset sice 2007, previous stages being split between Somerst and Devon.

The official launch last Wednesday May 11th gave the current Mayor of Taunton Deane Jefferson Horsley,himsef a keen cyclist, one of his last official duties before handing over to councillor Steve Brooks on Thursday May 19th. The Mayor said : " It;s a wonderful sight to witness some of the world's top cyclists in action here in Taunton Deane. I know the event was a huge success in Wellington last year and I hope that people will turn out and cheer the riders on their way. Taunton deane is very proud of its sporting heritage,we have a great country cricket club and splendid racecourse. We can now add the Tour of Britain once again."

Councillor David Hall, cabinet member for strategic planning and economic development at Somerset County Council added: "We look forward to welcoming visitors from around the world to Somerset this year.Not only will they see Olympic athletes in actio in one of the UKs greates free to view sporting events, but they will also be able to enjoy the many tourist attractions theat Somerset has to offer; including the spectacular Cheddar Gorge and the newly renovated Museum of Somerset."

Stage Six of the Tour of Britain will will start in East Reach Taunton,via Durston and Knapp and across west sedgemoor to Langport and on to the Somerset Levels. After skirting Somerton and Street,it heads for Cheddar and the world famous climb of Cheddar Gorge.

Once on the Mendip,it will head for Shepton Mallett,completeinh one and a half laps of a circuit,including the climb of Bristol Hill,allowing the spectators at the finsish in Wells to see the riders in action twice.

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Comments

I'm glad Taunton will be hosting the start of a Tour of Britain stage,when you just get them coming through, unless it's a hill climb, they go so fast it's a case of blink and you miss it. It will be good for businesses too, I think it is very short sighted of the County Council to drop support after this year,Somerset has spent the last five years building a reputation as good hosts and it brings a lot of revenue into the county.

By Zumerset_Gal at 13:07 on 13/05/11
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