Tour of Britain cycling stars near Audlem

Audlem cycling enthusiasts can get a glimpse of some of the top names in the world of cycling later this month.

British cycling greats like Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish will be passing near the village in Stage Four of the Tour of Britain 2013 on September 18th.

Stage Four starts in Stoke-on-Trent and will take in the A53 at Market Drayton, country lanes near Burleydam and Whitchurch town centre before crossing the Welsh border towards Wrexham and finishing in Llanberis.

Race director Mick Bennett said he expects spectators to turn out in force along the route to watch the tour in the borders area.

There will at least 16 professional teams from around the world taking part in The Tour of Britain 2013 and around 100 of the world's top cyclists,.

Stage Four sets off from outside the Potteries Museum and Art Gallery in Stoke-on-Trent city centre and heads down Potteries Way and Lichfield Street.

They will cycle down the A52 Leek Road and up London Road to Trent Vale before passing under the A500 at Hanford and taking the A34 Stone Road before heading out of the city on Barlaston Old Road.

They follow the A51 before branching off along the A53 through Loggerheads and around Market Drayton. They will then head cross country on Newstreet Lane past the village of Ightfield and Calverhall to the south of Burleydam before emerging onto the A525 and into Whitchurch.

After passing through Whitchurch they head off along the A525 to the Welsh border and into Wrexham before climbing onto Snowdonia to finish the stage at Llanberis at around 3.45pm.

The times to watch them are:

• 11.00am Leave Stoke-on-Trent.
• 11.45am Take A53 around Market Drayton.
• 12.15pm Pass through Ightfield.
• 12.20pm Pass through Whitchurch.
• 12.30pm Cross the border into Wales.

The Tour of Britain 2013 starts in Scotland on September 15th and finishes in London a week later. More details on the Tour of Britain website.

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