Home Page Skip Navigation

Home > What's on Diary > The Tour of Britain > Tour of Britain cycling fever hits Dunster

Tour of Britain cycling fever hits Dunster

Tuesday 9th September will see Britain's largest sporting event on the road come through Dunster at appriximatly 1.20pm, on its way to the day's stage finish at Burnham on Sea. The Tour of Britain, now in its fifth year has captured the imagination of the country and is destined to grow in popularity. Cycling, with the successes at this year's Olympics and the Tour de France, has suddenly become hugely popular. The Tour of Britain will have the household names of Mark Cavendish, who won an unprecedented four stage wins in the Tour de France and Bradley Wiggins Olympic Gold Medallist competing. The stage, from Chard to Burnham on Sea, will be the Tour's hardest day's racing and covers 115 miles.

The narrow medieval streets of Dunster, the Castle and the picturesque Yarn Market provide an idyllic setting for the race to leave Exmoor before it sets off along the A39 towards Bridgwater. Somerset County Council has organised a Park and Ride coach scheme from Minehead, which will run throughout the day and visitors will have plenty of time to soak up the race atmosphere.

Adding to the cycle race fever will be cycle racing in Dunster; but cycle racing with a difference. Local businesses, together with Active Exmoor and Somerset County Council have linked together and have organised for Rollapuluza Cycle Roller Racing to come to the village. Roller Racing is simple, quick and highly entertaining. Anyone can have a go and the day has been organised into Men, Women and Junior knockout races. The headline title will be 'Are you faster than Chris Hoy?'At the end of the day the fastest riders will have a head to head over 500m, which will take about 30 seconds; its nail biting stuff and great fun. Rollapuluza will take a photograph of the riders, the race results will be published on their website and there will be a host of prizes for the winners. Cliff Nicholson of Spears Cross in Dunster and William Wake of Dunster Castle have organised the Roller Racing. William commented 'With so many visitors coming into the village to watch the Tour pass by we felt we had to provide some entertainment and Cycle Roller Racing is ideal. Cyclists will readily want to race, but more importantly visitors, just here to watch the race, will be egged on by friends to have a go. Cycling is an up and coming sport in the UK and this is an ideal opportunity to encourage people to try it; its fun'.

Somerset County Council has organised a park and ride from Vulcan Road in Minehead to Dunster Steep Car Park from 10am-4pm in a circular route.