Day-long festival of cycling and family entertainment planned for when Boston hosts Tour of Britain cycle race

The event will run from 9am to 4pm on Thursday (September 3), when Boston will provide the starting point for stage two of the prestigious competition.

All the cycling action will be shown live and uninterrupted on a big screen in the Market Place, as the riders negotiate Lincolnshire’s countryside roads en route to Skegness.

Alongside this, there will be a host of varied attractions.

Leader of Boston Borough Council Coun Dale Broughton said: “This will be a landmark day to remember in the history of Boston. The day that we hosted premier international sport in the heart of our town and I am beyond excited to welcome the riders and teams to our town.

“The spectacle of top class sportsmen riding through Boston, in the glare of international sports media, will be a sight to behold and one that will be etched in our memories forever.

“And there will be so much more on the day in Boston to provide interest and entertainment as we send the riders on their way for the race challenge ahead. There will be plenty to do and see so that we can reflect back on the day international cycling came to our town.”

The event will include:

• The Big Yellow Bus – fresh from an excursion to promote stage two of the tour in Skegness – will be in the town, with non-stop street entertainment and circus skills. “An assembly of oddballs and colourful characters are guaranteed to provide some light relief amid the serious business of top-class sporting action,” a spokesman for the council said.
• PSC Bike Fit Swineshead, which offers a professional bike-fitting service
• Interactive opportunities courtesy of Outspoken Cycles, including smoothie bike package, pedal-powered Scalextric, and pedal-powered cycle sprint
• Food stalls, including Cheesy Pig, Pizza Pod, Bessi Bean coffee and Husky Ices
• A range of activity and information stalls from organisations including Active Lincolnshire, One You Lincolnshire and the opportunity to get your bike marked for free to ensure your wheels are protected

The road closures affecting the town centre and approximate timings will be as follows:

• Wide Bargate: 4am-12.30pm
• Park Gate: 4am-12.30pm
• Straight Bargate: 4am-12.30pm
• Market Place: 4am-6pm
• Church Close: 4am-6pm
• Church Street: 4am-6pm
• Fish Hill: 4am-6pm
• High Street: 4-11.30am
• Town Bridge: 4-11.30am
• South Street: 4-11.30am
• South Square: 4-11.30am
• John Adams Way Northbound from Liquorpond Roundabout to Bargate Roundabout: 10-10.40am
• Horncastle Road: 10-10.45am

The taxi ranks in both the Market Place and Wide Bargate will be closed during these periods.