Bike race road disruption minimal, says organiser

Stage three of the 2024 Tour of Britain starts in Sheffield and ends in Barnsley

Road disruption should be "minimal" when the Tour of Britain bike race comes to South Yorkshire this week, British Cycling has said.

The 103-mile (166km) third stage of the race starts on Thursday in Sheffield and will pass through Rotherham and Doncaster before finishing in Barnsley.

The event includes 8,860ft (2,700m) of ascents, with "King of the Mountain" climbs at Long Lane in Loxley and Hound Hill on the outskirts of Barnsley.

Andy Hawes, from British Cycling, said he thought the race "shouldn't have too much of an impact" on people's travel arrangements.

The South Yorkshire route includes 8,860ft (2,700m) of ascents

The six-day event, which starts in Kelso in the Scottish Borders later, is the UK's biggest cycling race. It is due to finish in Felixstowe on 8 September.

Starting on Arundel Gate in Sheffield city centre, stage three will cover 103 miles (166km) and end on County Way in Barnsley - the first time the race has visited the town.

Along the way riders will pass through Chapeltown, Wath upon Dearne, Swinton, Maltby, Tickhill, Conisbrough, Penistone and Worsbrough Common.

Mr Hawes told the BBC: "The road closures are really only in place within Sheffield and Barnsley at the start and the finish.

"Everything else is done under a rolling road closure, so just a minimal amount of time hopefully.

"A little bit of delay, but not much."

• Click here for information on road closures in Sheffield during the Tour of Britain

• Click here for information on road closures in Rotherham during the Tour of Britain

• Click here for information on road closures in Doncaster during the Tour of Britain

• Click here for information on road closures in Barnsley during the Tour of Britain

Sheffield City Council said Arundel Gate would close for the launch at 04:00 BST, with the stage getting under way at 11:00.

It expected the road to reopen at around 15:00.

South Yorkshire Mayor Oliver Coppard previously said the county was "a place that loves a bike race, and I know that thousands of people will be on the streets cheering them on".

Rotherham Council said it had a "robust traffic management plan" in place for the race.

City of Doncaster Council said the route would be closed for a "short period in which it takes for the race to pass by, usually about 15 to 20 minutes".

Barnsley Council said roads would be closed for "up to half an hour and reopened as soon as possible after the race".

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