The finish line of the final stage of the A J Bell Tour of Britain will be at the National Trust’s Needles New Battery, with the charity welcoming the finale of the major sporting event next month.
On Sunday 11th September, over 100 of the world’s top cyclists will ride almost 150km across the Isle of Wight from Ryde to the western tip of the Island.
The 8th stage will take them close to several National Trust properties, but the final culminates in a 2-kilometre climb up the Trust’s Needles Headland, with the last 400m to the New Battery making it the toughest ending to any Tour of Britain in modern history.
Gary Meek, Visitor Operations and Experience Manager for National Trust Isle of Wight, has said:
“It’s incredibly exciting to have the finish line of a such a prestigious event at one of our places and to welcome participants and spectators alike. The final stage will take riders through several stunning landscapes that we care for, before finishing at the Needles New Battery, one of our more unusual and less well-known sites, having been used for secret rocket testing during the Cold War.”
There are several places those wishing to watch the race can visit. The route will pass the entrance lane to Bembridge Windmill before later heading on to Mottistone Gardens, where free parking is available. Both sites will be open on the day from 10:30 until 17:00 (normal admission applies). The competition continues along Military Road, passing Brook and Compton, where the car parks will be open (charges apply). Smaller car parks between Compton Chine and Freshwater will also be open. Those wishing to view the race along Military Road are asked not to park on the verges.
The last few kilometres will see riders climb the steep road up the Needles Headland, which spectators are welcome to come and line, in order to be in the heart of the atmosphere. The race will pass the Old Battery, which will be open on the day from 10:30-17:00 (normal admission applies) before finishing at the New Battery at around 14:00-15:00 (closed).
Those wishing to visit either Tennyson Down and the Needles Headland or the Old Battery are advised to walk or cycle, as the large car park at Alum Bay will have limited capacity and the road up the Needles Headland to the New Battery will be closed on the day, with High Down chalk pit car park also closed from the evening of 10th September. There will be no accessible parking at the Needles Old Battery and the Southern Vectis Breezer bus will not be running up the Needles Headland.
Additionally, there will be traffic and parking restrictions to allow the race to pass through safely. For most of the route, a rolling road closure will be in place, organised by the Isle of Wight Council, with Military Road expected to close between 13:00 – 15:00.
