Plan ahead for Tour de France delays

The first two stages of the world’s biggest cycle race will take place in the Pennine areas close to the Lancashire-Yorkshire border on Saturday and Sunday, July 5th and 6th, with disruption expected as hundreds of thousands of people gather to enjoy the spectacle.

Signs warning motorists of the impending event have alrteady appeared on major routes in Pendle, and many of the roads across the border will be closed to people travelling into Yorkshire.

Travel on the Sunday will be particularly affected. For most of the day, the only available roads to the east of the area where the stage will be held will be the A66 to the north and the M62 which crosses the race. These roads are expected to be very busy.

County Coun. John Fillis, cabinet member for highways and transport, said: “This is a great opportunity for people to cheer on some of the best cyclists in the world at the Tour de France.

“We’re expecting lots of people from Lancashire to go and see the race, but to avoid disappointment, we’d advise you to set off early and head for one of the spectator points on the route.

“It’s best to decide where you would like to see the race and ensure you plan your journey. The ‘spectator hubs’ along the route will have other events taking place which will! help pass the time waiting for the race.

People planning to watch the tour can download a spectator guide and pick up useful travel tips by visiting www.lancashire.gov.uk and searching for ‘Tour de France’. This will also provide links to the official Tour web pages. For further inquiries, email [email protected].

The race passes through Skipton on the Saturday before looping round the Yorkshire Dales and ending in Harrogate.

On the Sunday, the race starts on the famous York racecourse and after a circuit of York heads back to Harrogate before turning south for Keighley and Hebden Bridge before finishing in Sheffield.