Route of Le Tour from London

[Spud]

I think I am right in saying the Tour started from London two or three years ago. Does anybody know the route they took and is it worth having a go?

 

[Will1985]

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/British-Cyclosportivehttp://adrianfitch.wordpress.com/2007/06/27/british-cyclosportive-route-map/

Can't say if it's worth it - I've ridden the last 50km backwards, and the route until Rochester looks like it follows more or less the same route as the FNRttC to Whitstable. Could be a bit slow in parts dodging traffic.

 

[ianrauk]

A fair amount of the route were major A roads which were obviously shut for the race.

 

[Will1985]

I was going to say that...for some reason I seem to remember a short stretch of motorway was used...I'm probably very wrong though - this is England where the car can't be stopped for anything.

 

[jeltz]

http://www.bikely.com/maps/bike-path/British-Cyclosportive

Can't say if it's worth it - I've ridden the last 50km backwards, and the route until Rochester looks like it follows more or less the same route as the FNRttC to Whitstable. Could be a bit slow in parts dodging traffic.

Was this you then?

 

[Spud]

So all in all it's not the scenic 60 mile ride I was hoping for.I thought part of the point of the tour starting in countries other than France was to showcase a bit of of what the country has to offer . It sounds like the best we have is the M20.

 

[Steve Austin]

I've ridden it. It didn't go along any motorway, and mostly meandered through the Kent countryside. Lovely route, and worth riding.

 

[earth]

I did the route a week before. I do recall a long downhill stretch on an A road - no motorway. A few climbs that were not very difficult. The last 10 miles or so into Canterbury were along a lovely straight road that I suggest may have originally been a Roman road due to it being dead straight.

The route was over 120 miles.

 

[jimboalee]

I rode the Wincanton/Rochester International Classic on the day of the race in 1997.
A group of lads from Maidstone and I started two hours before the official race and rushed round until the police outriders ushered us off the road while we were climbing Boxley Hill ( thank goodness ).

When the leading group had passed, the police allowed us to continue along the route.

There was confusion at the finish because the final circuit was closed because the leading group had completed a lap before the main pack reached the entrance to the circuit.
Piss poor organisation.

It was the last round of the World Cup to be held in Britain. I wonder why?

I prefered the Leeds Classic route which went up Holme Moss twice.

 

[SimonC]

I rode the Wincanton/Rochester International Classic on the day of the race in 1997.
A group of lads from Maidstone and I started two hours before the official race and rushed round until the police outriders ushered us off the road while we were climbing Boxley Hill ( thank goodness ).

When the leading group had passed, the police allowed us to continue along the route.

There was confusion at the finish because the final circuit was closed because the leading group had completed a lap before the main pack reached the entrance to the circuit.
Piss poor organisation.

It was the last round of the World Cup to be held in Britain. I wonder why?

I prefered the Leeds Classic route which went up Holme Moss twice.

+1 to that Jimbo, I always used to ride out from Sheff to watch, great atmosphere on the climb, always seemed to be sunny as well!

 

[jimboalee]

+1 to that Jimbo, I always used to ride out from Sheff to watch, great atmosphere on the climb, always seemed to be sunny as well!

Nope.... thinner air at altitude..

 

[gregster]

I did the route a week before. I do recall a long downhill stretch on an A road - no motorway. A few climbs that were not very difficult. The last 10 miles or so into Canterbury were along a lovely straight road that I suggest may have originally been a Roman road due to it being dead straight.

The route was over 120 miles.

The road is called Stone Street and runs from the outskirts of Hythe all the way to Canterbury, and was originally a Roman Road. Used to form part of my regular training route when I lived down that way, and I loved it. The hill at the start was/is a bugger but is quite short. Some fantastic views from the South Downs early on.

Might have to put the bike in the car and relive my youth!!!