This weekend, Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire will host the biggest and most prestigious bike race in British cycling.
Some of the world’s best cyclists will be attending the opening stage of this year’s Tour of Britain.
It will be the first time the north-east has ever hosted the start of the event since it began in 1945.
The 112-mile first stage will start on Aberdeen’s Union Street and finish at Glenshee Ski Centre on Sunday, September 4.
See the interactive map below for the full route:
The Tour will be celebrated with a packed calendar of events across the north-east over the weekend.
But the festivities will mean road disruption across the area.
How will the roads be closed?
The Tour of Britain road closure operation usually works on a rolling system where roads are closed and opened depending on where the cyclists are.
Police and escort vehicles on motorbikes will work to hold traffic and restart traffic before and after the race moves through an area.
The rolling road closure works like a moving bubble, with the race at the centre and the escort surrounding the competitors.
Aberdeenshire road closures
Roads throughout Aberdeenshire will be closed for an estimated 30 minutes as the riders pass through.
Motorists have been encouraged to look at the map to see when the competitors are expected to be in each area.
- However, the A93 will be closed between Braemar and the Spittal of Glenshee to all unauthorised vehicle traffic from 11am on race day. If you have a parking pass you will be allowed access before 1pm.
- Once all the spectators have arrived the road will be closed to all traffic until the race is over and cleared up. This is expected to be around 5-6pm.
Estimated arrival times
- Inverurie – 11:54am
- Bennachie Forest – 12:16pm
- Lord’s Throat – 12:33pm
- Suie Hill – 1:13pm
- Alford – 1:25pm
- Ballater – 2:34pm
- Glenshee Ski Centre – 3:34pm
Aberdeenshire parking restrictions
There will also be a number of parking restrictions throughout Aberdeenshire.
- Along the route, there will be yellow advanced warning signs before the event. Organisers have warned motorists to not park on them or their vehicles may have to be removed.
- No roadside parking will be available for two miles in each direction from Glenshee Ski Centre on race day. This means no vehicles will be allowed to park on the roads between the Sean Spittal Bridge or Devils Elbow as the A93 approaches the Summit of the Cairnwell Pass from both north and South.
- For those wishing to cycle the last leg of the route from Braemar to Glenshee, the field normally used as the main Braemar Gathering car park will be used on the approach to Aberdeen. Cyclists can park their cars there and cycle up to watch the finale of the race.
Aberdeen road closures
However, because of the racing that is going on in Aberdeen city centre the day before the Tour of Britain, as well as the number of events taking place, the road closure plan will be different here.
They will not be closed on a rolling basis, and instead will be closed on a more permanent basis.
The following roads will be closed 4am on Saturday, September 3, until 3pm the next day for the Tour of Britain:
- Union Street
- Union Terrace
- Rosemount Viaduct
- Denburn Viaduct
- Schoolhill
- Back Wynd
- Little Belmont Street
- Belmont Street
- Gaelic Lane
- Harriet Street
- Blackfriars Street
- St Andrews Street
- Bridge Street
- Diamond Place
- Diamond Street
First Bus has also announced a number of diversions which their buses will be following during the event.
Aberdeen parking restrictions
The following street parking, including disabled parking, will be suspended from 8pm on Thursday, September 1 until 3pm on Sunday, September 4.
- Crown Street
- Wellington Place (north side)
- Union Terrace
- St Andrew Street (from Blackfriars Street to Charlotte Street)
- Diamond Street (from Union Street to Diamond Lane)
- Schoolhill (from Blackfriars Street to Upperkirkgate)
- Little Belmont Street
- Back Wynd
- Gaelic Lane
- Bridge Street
- Beach Boulevard (Eastbound)
- Esplanade (Northbound)
For those unable to attend any of the events, they can follow the action on TV.
ITV4 will be broadcasting the race live at every stage and will also have a nightly highlights show.
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