Hiley Website

Stages 5 and 6 of the OVO Tour of Britain Cycle Race are based in Cumbria this year

with a short but fast time trial from Cockermouth to Whinlatter yesterday

and a big ride from Barrow in Furness up through the Lakes today . . . passing our cottage here in Loweswater !!

It is a lovely morning today . . . just right for a bike ride . . . not that I've been on mine for years !

We are due an influx of visitors today as The Tour is due to pass the cottage around lunchtime.

Signs were being put up (and taken down because they were in the wrong place), excitement was building

and two people are standing at the junction to bag their place at this strategic viewing point.

From the Tour of Britain Web Site we gathered ITV4 were doing live coverage so we had the television on

to see how they were going and how soon they would be with us . . . they've just started down by the coast at Barrow.

The leading group of four passing Thirlmere with over a third of the course completed.

The largest group of riders, the Peleton, are 3 minutes behind.



Approaching Braithwaite after passing through Keswick.	A bit of a squeeze in the narrows.

The start of the Whinlatter "King of the Mountain" climb, the third of five big hill climbs the riders will do today.

[ Those road barriers have been there nearly three years (since the 2015 floods) but will go soon

as there is a twelve-week road works plan about to start, to re-build the bridge and reinforce the river bank here ]

Up Whinlatter for the first time today . . . they are less than twenty minutes away from us.

	- - - o o o - - - In the fields of Darling How Farm near Scawgill Bridge someone has created a fine piece of bike-art, a sheep riding The Tour. - - - o o o - - -

Putting Lorton on the map . . . and on the television . . . as the bikes take a sharp left at the bottom of the village.

Not long now . . .



The helicopter's view of the Lorton Valley . . .	. . . and the road bike view of the four leaders in the narrows.

That house looks familiar . . . Scale Hill at the top of the short rise up from the Lorton valley.

It is the start of a more undulating section of the ride.

Local supporters, Michael and Sheila, are enjoying the spectacle.

The crowds are out at the triangle . . . numbers swollen from two to ten, eleven including myself.

They include locals Andrew Locking and Gill, plus visitors and friends Pat (in pink) and Alan Powell.

Thirteen if you count the other two . . . can't be long now.

The police motorcyclists head up the cycle riders in order to close the road to traffic.



A race official next and a police car . . .	Race officials and yet more police bikes . . .

The first riders are in sight !

They pass Ann . . . close by the roadside.

The leading four round the bend by our group of spectators.

James Shaw, Vasil Kiryienka, Tony Martin, and Connor Swift.

Applause from those not holding cameras . . . shouts from the rest of us.

A mid-race break away rider, Matt Holmes, a minute behind the leaders

has his own ITV camera crew in attendance.



The lead group have a few team cars following in fast pursuit.	Above us now the ITV helicopter . . . so the Peleton must be close.

Our daughter sent us this view of the race as it passes our cottage . . . we of course are outside in the picture.

The main group of bikes, riding fast but biding their time, hoping the leaders get tired before the end.

The yellow riders are from Team LottoNL – Jumbo

Blue . . . the colourful Movistar Team.

Light blue and burgundy . . . Team Katusha Alpecin

. . . followed by a whole host of others.

The main Peleton leaders pass me . . .

They are moving fast . . . keeping up the momentum

before the next short up-hill rise up past Rose Cottage and the Vicarage.

Team Sky . . . including Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas, both Tour de France winners in recent years.

The Katusha team in our lens(es) this time.

There are over 100 cyclists in the main group . . . an impressive sight as they ride past.

The tail markers are now passing Ann and Dylan.

. . . followed by the ITV camera crew that has been busy giving the live TV broadcast.

It doesn't end with the last bike . . . as all the support cars are following the riders.

The bikes slow as they climb up the hill . . . and behind them the cars line up waiting for the speed to build again.

Chance to take in the names . . . and the advertising of course.



The Great Britain Cycling Team support car . . .	. . . and Team Madison Genesis

There are medics on hand . . . but hopefully their ride will be an uneventful one.

Extra support for the event in case of multiple incidents.

- - - o o o - - -

One more police vehicle to end the procession and the road is re-opened.

In the time you have taken to view the photographs . . . it was all over.

We head inside once more to view the television coverage.

The leaders pass Thrushbank then ride on alongside Loweswater.



Matt Holmes at the narrows by Waterend and Swallow Barn.	The leaders passing the Iredale Place turn.

Fangs Brow junction near the top of the fourth big hill climb of the day.

[ The new tarmac looks nice ! ]



Out to the coast and a tight turn through Branthwaite.	On into Workington where there are plenty of folk on the streets.

The route now circles back to Cockermouth,

scene of the start of yesterday's sprint race via Lorton to Whinlatter.

Up the rise passing that rather nice Quince and Medlar Vegetarian Restaurant.



Round Bassenthwaite Lake and back into Keswick again.	No stopping for a Luchini's Ice Cream at Noble Knott.

The race is on . . . the green jersey the OVO Energy race leader of last night . . . Roglic Primoz.

The Peleton group have caught up with the front riders and it's anyone's race from here . . .

The final rise at the top of Whinlatter Pass . . . Wout Poles powers through into the lead.

The turn into the Whinlatter Centre . . . hardly recognisable with all the banners and hoardings.

A Stage Win for Wout Poles after a valiant effort on the hill climb from Julian Alaphillipe in blue.

All is not lost though as this ride gives Alaphillipe the green jersey as overall race leader at the end of today's stage.

	- - - o o o - - - This was today's winner's board at the end of Friday's Barrow to Whinlatter Stage 6 of the Tour of Britain Bike Race - - - o o o - - -

Check out their website for the final results from this flamboyant week of racing.

I don't normally follow cycling . . . but you've got to admit the excitement is infectious !

Hope you had an interesting day.

- - - o o o - - -


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