Cycle race road closures as Surrey hosts Tour of Britain

Bradley Wiggins races through Surrey on his way to a gold medal in the time trial event during the Olympic Games

Newsletters on road closures have been sent to all people living and working on the Tour of Britain route in Surrey.

Huge crowds are expected to line the race route, which ends in Guildford on 16 September.

The Olympics cycle road race saw all roads on the route closed from early in the morning, but rolling road closures will be used for the Tour of Britain.

Some roads will be closed for longer around the start and finish lines in Guildford and Reigate.

West Street in Dorking and Barhatch Road in Cranleigh will also be subject to longer road closures.

Full details have been published on the Go Surrey website.

The Surrey stage of the route starts at Guildford and then passes through Dorking, Shere, Mayford, West Horsley, Ockley, Cranleigh, Dunsfold, Witley and Bramley, before returning to Guildford for the finish.

'Cycling fever'

Up to 1,000 people flocked to the Guildford Cycle Festival - double the expected numbers

Surrey County Council said parking restrictions would be in place.

County councillor Helyn Clack, cabinet member for community services and London 2012, said: "The Tour of Britain will build on Surrey's Olympic success.

"We brought the race here because it will boost the economy by as much as £2.5m, strengthen the county's reputation as a world-class cycling destination and inspire even more people to try out the sport."

The council said cycling fever had gripped the county after 1,000 people flocked to the Guildford Cycle Festival this month - double the expected numbers.

The festival was organised to capitalise on the surge in popularity of pedal power after Team GB's Bradley Wiggins, Lizzie Armitstead and Chris Froome won medals on the county's roads during London 2012.