Route

Once again Somerset and Devon are getting behind The Tour of Britain and show both locations are serious about cycling and premier destinations for serious cyclists.

Stage Four of The Tour will definitely involve some serious cycling too, with three Category One King of the Mountains climbs, plus countless unclassified ascents, spread along the 171 kilometre route between Minehead and Teignmouth, giving you the chance to follow the route through challenging terrain and stunning settings.

Starting off from the car park of the West Somerset Railway in Minehead the neutralised section of the stage will take The Tour to Dunster and past the famous castle into the Exmoor National Park and onto the A396, for the start proper just before Timberscombe. It’s not long before the climbing starts either, setting the tone for a day where the flat sections are few and far between.

The road climbs up to Wheddon Cross amongst trees, retracing part of the route that Stage Three took in 2008, before turning left in the village as the climb up the category one Lype Hill continues. The long climb tops out just off the main road, before the descent back to the coast through the villages of Luxborough and Roadwater.

The return to the north Somerset coast just a few miles east of Minehead gives a great chance for spectators who’ve come to the start of the stage to see The Tour in action again as it heads to the first Sprint at Blue Anchor, outside the Smuggler’s Inn.

The Tour then turns inland again and once again begins climbing up to Ralegh’s Cross, the day’s second King of the Mountains, inside the first 30 miles of racing.

Descending from the Brendon Hills and across the Vale of Taunton Deane the route climbs up once again, this time into the Blackdown Hills Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty on the Somerset / Devon border. A steep descent takes the riders down into the village of Hemyock, and gives them a taste of one of the climbs they will be racing up during Wednesday’s stage from Tavistock to Glastonbury.

While this section of the stage may not contain any of the designated King of the Mountains climbs, there are plenty of lumps for the riders to negotiate as they head across the middle of the South West peninsula.

Racing into Honiton, known for its lace making, The Tour turns left on the High Street this year instead of right, taking in the day’s second Sprint at the heart of the town, so sure to attract plenty of spectators to cheer riders on. The race then climbs up through Honiton to the top of the town and out onto Honiton Hill, a long and deceptively tough hill that may take some riders by surprise.

The road levels out over the top through Putts Corner before dropping down through Sidbury and Sidford to the attractive seaside resort of Sidmouth. Instead of taking on the challenge of Trow Hill this year, The Tour heads straight into Sidmouth for the day’s final intermediate Sprint on the esplanade, and then onto the fearsome Peak Hill.

This short, but steep, climb will tax the riders and could bring about another selection at the front of the race. One thing is for certain though. The riders won’t have time to enjoy the fine views back across Lyme Bay and along the Jurassic Coast!

After crossing the River Otter and taking in Budleigh Salterton, The Tour heads in land through Topsham to the fringes of Exeter, where the stage crosses the River Exe.

The weary legs will have been given some respite with the flat section alongside the Exe Estuary, but coming out of Dawlish the road climbs up once more for a lumpy finale along the coast to Teignmouth. The road kicks up and down, draining the strength of anyone trying to maintain a lead approaching the finish, and any escapees won’t be pleased to see the stage circle up and above Teignmouth rather than taking the direct route to the seafront.

A fast descent down Exeter Road will bring The Tour racing into the town centre, before turning onto the promenade for the final, decisive few hundred metres to the line.

Of course if the description of the challenges of Stage Four has wetted your appetite, then head to www.tourride.co.uk where you can sign up to ride The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Ride on Sunday 5th September.

(All timings approximate)