UP to 120 of the world’s best cyclists are set to ride through Pershore this month as the OVO Energy Tour of Britain 2019 comes to the market town.

The OVO Energy Tour of Britain 2019 is a 1,250km race held over eight days started in Glasgow on Saturday and will end in Manchester this Saturday, September 14.

More than 5,000 spectators are estimated to flock to the Pershore town centre and side lines for stage six of the race which is estimated to start at 1pm on Thursday, September 12.

Hosted by Worcestershire’s Vale & Spa, the stage will see riders tackle a 14.5km individual time trial which will start and finish on Broad Street and pass through Little Comberton and Bricklehampton during a scenic anti-clockwise loop.

ITV4 will be providing television coverage and Worcestershire’s Vale & Spa Stage Six – Pershore Individual Time Trial and highlights are scheduled to air this evening.

READ MORE: Road closures in place as Tour of Britain reaches Pershore and surrounding area

Councillor Rob Adams, Portfolio Holder for Community Engagement, Culture and Sport, at Wychavon District Council, said: “The OVO Energy Tour of Britain is the UK’s most prestigious cycle race and we are so proud to host stage six in our wonderful town of Pershore. As part of Wychavon’s strategy, we have invested in sport and leisure facilities and have worked with partners to increase levels of cycling in the district.

The OVO Energy Tour of Britain is just another part of our priority to help people to be healthy, active and supported.”

To accommodate the start and finish line gantry, barriers, hospitality, podium and all the team vehicles, full road closures (except emergency services) will be in place to all traffic.

These closures are also required for rider and spectator safety and are endorsed by Worcestershire County Council.

The road closures are as follows:

Pershore Town Centre Closures

B4084

High Street/Bridge Street from the Cherry Orchard Junction (High Street) to the Pensham Hill Junction (Bridge St) will remain closed from 9.30am until 6pm.

Roadside parking will also be suspended from 7am until 6pm.

North and Southbound traffic will not be able to travel through the town centre. Access will be available to frontages in Head Street, Priest Lane, Cherry Orchard and King Georges Way (via Worcester Road/Station Road).

The High Street entrance to ASDA car park (opposite Church Street) is closed for 24 hours. It started at 10pm last night, and approximately 40 spaces in ASDA car park are suspended.

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Broad Street and Church Walk closed at 5am, running until 7pm.

However, from 5pm northbound ‘evening peak’ traffic will be able to travel up Bridge Street, access Broad Street (Westbound only) and exit via Defford Road.

All roadside/bay parking is suspended from 1am until 7pm.

Church Street and Church Row closed at 9.30am and is closed until 6pm, with roadside parking suspended from 7am until 6pm.

Priest Lane will therefore become a ‘no through road’. To ease congestion on Priest Lane, roadside car parking will be suspended from the High Street Junction to St Agatha’s Close.

Abbey Road and Newlands will remain open as normal but a two way traffic light system will be in operation at the roundabout until 6pm.

Abbey Road and Newlands will also have roadside/bay car parking suspended (near each traffic light) until 6pm.

Abbey Park Car Park is closed and will reopen at 6pm.

Wychavon Refuse Collection

For both domestic and commercial properties in Church Walk and Broad Street that would normally have a collection on the Thursday, waste will be picked up tomorrow, Friday, September 14, instead due to the full road closures.

Time Trial Route Closures

Starting on Broad Street, riders will set off individually and exit onto Bridge Street, turn right onto Pensham Hill and head towards Great Comberton. The route then passes through Little Comberton and Bricklehampton before heading back to the B4084 during a scenic anti-clockwise loop.

Riders will then whizz past Wick and sprint finish onto the High Street.

For riders and spectators safety, part of the 14.5km / 9 mile time trial route (see map B) will require a full road closure from 11am until 3.30pm. Which means there will be no vehicle access in either direction of the route (except emergency services) and ‘no waiting’ restrictions in operation throughout the race route.

With the extensive road closures in place, residents and businesses, in the Pershore and surrounding areas, are advised to:

Plan your route, allow plenty of time to travel/park and where possible walk, cycle or use public transport.

Visit tourofbritain.co.uk/stages/stage-six to find an interactive map showing the full route of the race.

Visit wychavon.gov.uk/tourofbritain for all road closure information (this is subject to change), up-to-date details about the closures, route, timings, public transport, spectator parking and key locations.