It was a sort of gradual zooming in to realisation as I looked at the undetailed map.
At first I thought "Yeah, that looks pretty close on the map. Might be coming to Nottingham again."
I then looked down to the list of stages beneath. "Stage 4 - Mansfield to Newark - 175km".
Holy Bloody Moly. I nearly died. Newark's largest ever sporting event. Ever. Olympic and world champions are going to be screaming through town, and then maybe going for a coffee at Rumbles Cafe (LOL). Owain Doull....Mark Cavendish...Greg van Avermaet....maybe even Peter Sagan!
Well we won't know the riders for a while yet, but if Mr Sagan, cycling's biggest superstar appears in Newark it will be amazing.
I've actually put a guide to what seems to be the final run in according to the route on the TOB website - not fixed yet apparently.
The race will come into town from Coddington direction - this means the Peleton will be screaming down 400m of 1 in 8 Beacon Hill at a speed of probably 70kmh AT LEAST. This is about 4.5km from the finish.
Over the railway bridge at the bottom, and it's a flat out kilmometre to a 80 degree left turn, this might be a bit tricky, before the race drags up the slight slope to the castle roundabout.
There then follows a short 200 metre run along Castlegate, before what looks like a very awkward right turn into Millgate. We are about 1.5 km from the finish here.
Halfway along Millgate the road begins to drag up again - but I can't see anyone being able to attack of that incline - before the race turns onto Farndon Road.
A quick blast over the River Devon, and you enter the finshing straight about 600 metres from the line.
I'm guessing the race village will be Sconce Park.
So excited! See you on September 6th.
Si
All text and images copyright CreamCrackeredNature 25.04.17
