Tour of Britain returns to Cheshire's country roads

The world’s top cyclists will be racing through the county’s picturesque villages on Sunday, September 3.

The first stage of the event will see the field travelling at speeds of more than 30mph, negotiating humpback railway bridges and testing bends through Ashley and Mobberley.

The tour will follow a 12-mile route through Cheshire East starting from the border with Trafford at Ashley, then heading south into Mobberley, before turning northeast to travel through Wilmslow, Dean Row and onto Stockport.

Fans can watch riders as they speed through Ashley, Mobberley and Wilmslow in the Tour of Britain (Image: Supplied)

Riders could include former winners of the Tour of Britain – Gonzalo Serrano (2022) and Wout van Aert (2021).

Fans wishing to catch a second glimpse of the riders can do so again when the Wrexham stage of the race is also extended into Cheshire East near Bunbury on Monday, September 4.

Peter Hodges, of Tour of Britain, said: “Cheshire East offers challenging roads for both leisure and competition cycling.

“It’s great that the tour is once again visiting the borough, where we received a fantastic reception and support from thousands of spectators in 2016.”

Road closures and spectator safety measures will be controlled by police and Tour of Britain marshals.

Full details of the route can be found at the Tour of Britain website.

The event last came to Cheshire East in 2021, in the midst of the Covid pandemic.

In 2016, the borough hosted an entire stage of the event, with an official start in Congleton and a spectacular finish in Tatton Park.

The race is broadcast live on ITV4 and transmitted to 170 countries.

Cllr Mark Goldsmith, Cheshire East Council chairman of the economy and growth committee, said: “While the tour’s excursion into Cheshire East may be brief, a major international event such as the Tour of Britain has to be good for the borough’s economy, as indeed it was in 2016.

“Cheshire East will be part of the opening stage of the race, which starts in Altrincham.

“So, hopefully, we can expect to see some benefits from that in terms of the visitor economy, knowing that this is an event that is extremely popular with cycling fans and members of the public who want to see the stars of this sport on our local roads.”

Cllr Chris Hilliard, Cheshire East Council’s walking and cycling champion, said: “Events such as the Tour of Britain manage to inspire many others, particularly young people to take up cycling.

“This is the third occasion that the tour has come to Cheshire East, and we hope that these two legs are as successful and as popular with the crowds as the event has proved in the past.

“It gives us a chance to show off our fantastic countryside, local towns and villages people can visit by popping on a bike.

“Cheshire East is a great place to cycle.”

Spectators are asked to make sure they watch the race in safety, especially on narrow lanes and arrive early so that they can take the opportunity to visit some of the borough’s popular towns and villages