Some of cycling’s top athletes are gearing up to tackle Sheffield’s challenging hills as the Tour of Britain Men’s race comes to the city. Stage three of this iconic annual race will see riders, including Olympic gold medallists Tom Pidcock and Remco Evenepoel, covering 103.2 miles from Sheffield to Barnsley on Thursday, September 5.
This marks the first time since 2006 that the event has visited Sheffield.
The race will start at Arundel Gate in Sheffield city centre, passing through Rotherham and Doncaster before ending in Barnsley.
Cyclists are scheduled to depart from Arundel Gate at 11 a.m., heading west past Fulwood towards the Peak District. The route then turns north, passing through Stannington, Oughtibridge, Grenoside, and Chapeltown before continuing to Rotherham and Doncaster. Riders are expected to cross the finish line on County Way in Barnsley between 2:48 p.m. and 3:35 p.m.
Road Closures
Arundel Gate will be closed from 4 a.m. on Thursday, September 5, to allow for race setup. Team presentations will begin at 9:50 a.m., with the race starting at 11 a.m. Arundel Gate is expected to reopen around 3 p.m.
There will be rolling road closures along the race route to ensure the safety of cyclists and the public. Roads will be closed for approximately 15 to 30 minutes as the race progresses, managed by police escort vehicles. Motorists are advised not to park along the route between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. on race day.
Key roads in Sheffield affected by the race include Fulwood Lane, Redmires Road, Haggstones Road, Kirk Edge Road, Jawbone Hill, and the A6135 Chapeltown Road. The full route can be viewed at the British Cycling website.
Bus Services
Some bus routes will be diverted or suspended due to road closures. Further information is available on the Travel South Yorkshire website and through the Tour of Britain’s official channels.
Best Places to Watch
The riders will face a total climb of 2,700 meters, taking on some of South Yorkshire’s toughest hills. Fans can catch the action at key spots, including the King of the Mountains climbs at Loxley, Oughtibridge, and Hound Hill near Barnsley.
The first major climb is on Long Lane above Loxley, where the leaders are expected to reach the summit between 11:36 a.m. and 11:41 a.m. The second climb, Jawbone Hill at Oughtibridge, is a 1.7-kilometre stretch with a 9% gradient that was part of the 2014 Tour de France. Riders are expected to summit between 11:43 a.m. and 11:49 a.m.
After winding through Wath upon Dearne, Swinton, and Maltby, the sole intermediate sprint will take place in Tickhill between 12:45 p.m. and 1:05 p.m. From there, the route passes Doncaster, Royston, and Darton before reaching Penistone. The final major climb is Hound Hill, a 1.5-kilometre ascent expected to be completed between 2:43 p.m. and 3:29 p.m. The stage finishes with a 7% incline over the last 800 meters into County Way in Barnsley.
Additional Events
On Wednesday, September 4, a community cycling festival will be held at Forge Valley School cycling track from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. The event is free and open to riders of all ages and skill levels, featuring Learn to Ride sessions, bike maintenance workshops, refreshments, and entertainment.
On race day, spectators are encouraged to decorate their homes and gardens with bunting to support the riders. There will also be races and challenges at Parkwood Springs for school cycling teams from across Sheffield.
For more details, visit the Tour of Britain and Welcome to Sheffield websites.
