WHERE TO WATCH THE TOUR OF BRITAIN IN CUMBRIA

Get ready to enjoy the spectacle of the Tour of Britain as it arrives in Cumbria for two days of thrilling race action all set to the beautiful backdrop of our county’s dramatic landscape. The thing that makes a big cycle race like the Tour of Britain so exciting is that at every stage of the route there is something interesting going. It’s a highly tactical and highly changeable beast. The energy of the main group of riders (known as the peloton) is a bit like a flock of birds in tight formation, organically and gracefully reshaping and reforming as it flows along the roads.

Each athlete has their own challenge and specialism - there are the sprinters, bunched up and battling on the flats, narrowly dodging obstacles and riding at close to 50miles an hour on a narrow on a thin layer of rubber, the hill climbers defying gravity to propel themselves up the steepest gradients to cross the mountain passes first, and maybe pull on the polka dot jersey of the King of the Mountains, and there are the domestiques who are the worker bees of a team, they support the star riders and work for the good their team.

Keep an eye out for the art installations, decorated bikes and land art around the county for example in Ulverston you can spot 12 Wall Art installations – featuring Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome, both of whom are set to ride the 2018 race – the project is the work of independent homeware, gifts and art retailer The Northern Line.

The winners of the two Cumbrian stages will be awarded these beautiful trophies- made by the wonderful people at Cumbria Crystal. If you’re in Ulverston to watch the tour, it’s worth popping down to their factory for a free tour. It’s amazing to see the love and hard work that goes into their glass wear.

Stage 6 11:00 Barrow - START
11:37 Ulverston
12:08 Coniston
12:26 Ambleside
12:33 Grasmere
12:58 Keswick
13:07 Braithwaite
13:43 Workington
14:14 Cockermouth
14:41 Keswick
14:46 Braithwaite
14:51 Whinlatter Visitors Centre - FINISH

King of the Mountain Climbs 12:12 Hawkshead Hill KOM
12:41 Dunmail Raise KOM
13:11 Whinlatter KOM
13:35 Fangs Brow KOM
14:51 Whinlatter Pass KOM

Sprints 11:37 Ulverston
12:27 Ambleside
14:02 Broughton Moor
14:16 Cockermouth

Big screens Fanzone on Dalton Road, Barrow
Tour Village at Whinlatter Visitors Centre

Share your pictures of the tour and cycle inspired art in Cumbria with #theplacetobe

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