World class cycling heads to Hartlepool.

The impressive line-up features a range of big names, including reigning European Champion Lorena Wiebes, double Olympic gold medallist Kristen Faulkner, former World Champion Lizzie Deignan, teammate Anna Henderson, prodigious young talents Cat Ferguson and Imogen Wolff. The Great Britain Cycling Team is also competing.

The teams participating in the race will be presented aboard HMS Trincomalee from 9.30am.

The stage starts at 10.45am in Maritime Avenue, near to the Museum of Hartlepool. After leaving Hartlepool marina, the riders will head towards and through Seaton Carew before heading off across the Tees Valley.

Councillor Brenda Harrison, Leader of Hartlepool Borough Council, said: "It is a huge honour for Hartlepool to be hosting the start of stage 2 of this race and you can sense the excitement with the event now just days away.

"We’ve already had confirmation of a fantastic line-up of top riders and the whole day promises to be a truly memorable occasion

"We hope people will turn out in force to cheer on the riders as they depart the town and head off across the Tees Valley.”

The occasion is to be celebrated with a range of activities that promise to create a real festival atmosphere.

An Event Village will open in the car park of the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool at 9am and there will be an activation space in Maritime Avenue featuring a range of drop-in arts activities, interactive installations, live music and performances from 9-11.30am. Hartlepool Borough Council is working closely with local award-winning visual arts community interest company BloomInArt on the family-friendly programme which will be free and open to all.

Hartlepool-based Manilla Cycling Club will be providing cycling-focused activities on Maritime Avenue, and the Hartlepool Walking and Cycling Hub in Church Street, run by staff from national cycling charity Sustrans, will be holding a two-hour guided bike ride from 12.30pm along the route to be taken out of Hartlepool by the Tour of Britain Women race. There’s more information about the ride at Women's Tour of Britain Guided Ride, with Sustrans Hartlepool. Tickets, Fri, Jun 6, 2025 at 12:30 PM | Eventbrite Sustrans staff will also be providing cycle parking and offering a Dr Bike service in the activation area.

A range of other key information has been issued to ensure people are able to maximise their safe enjoyment of the event includes:

Where to watch the event

There is a series of places where you can watch the event, including:

• The British Cycling Tour Zone in the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool car park where you can meet the riders and watch the presentation.
• Maritime Avenue.
• Locations along Seaton sea front.

Spectator safety

• Remember the race progresses at a fast pace, so please don’t stand in the road even to get a photograph.
• Don’t cross the road once the lead car has passed as the race will be coming at speed.
• Arrive early, the race can go quicker or slower than planned. If you can’t get to a start or finish location, check out other key climbs or points of interest on route.
• Don’t park on the roadside on the racecourse, find a safe off-road position.
• Listen to the marshals. Their advice is your safety.

Car parking

There will be NO car parking near the start line, so visitors are being encouraged to plan their journeys and to arrive early where possible. Car parking is available in Hartlepool town centre and also in Vision Retail Park, off Marina Way. For more information about car parks managed by Hartlepool Borough Council go to www.hartlepool.gov.uk/info/20185/parking/91/car_parks_in_hartlepool

Parking restrictions will be in place on Maritime Avenue and Victoria Terrace from 5am on Friday 6th June and unauthorised vehicles found parked on these roads will be removed. Whilst there won’t be any other formal parking restrictions in place along the route, a police-enforced rolling road block will be in operation to restrict any movement of traffic for 20 minutes before and after the race passes through. It is recommended that, where possible, people use public transport to travel to the event.

Road closures

For more information about road closures click on the link below.

 https://www.britishcycling.org.uk/zuvvi/media/tourofbritain/tob_women/2025/documents/BC-ToBWOMEN-2025-ETA_A4_Stage_2_V3.pdf 

Travelling by bike

Why not travel to the event by bike. Ride to the event and leave your bike in the secure storage area to be provided in the car park of the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool. This service is free and booking is not required. Just ensure you pick up your bike by 12pm.

Toilets

Public toilets (including an accessible toilet) will be available at the start line. There are also public toilets located in Seaton Carew once the race is underway.

Make a Day of It

From unique heritage and attractions to spectacular scenery including stunning beaches and a picturesque marina, Hartlepool is a fantastic destination for a family day out. The National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool, near the race start line, is the perfect place to launch your adventure, taking you on a memorable journey of discovery through an 18th century seaport and welcoming you onboard the magnificent HMS Trincomalee – Britain’s oldest warship afloat.

Also on site is the Museum of Hartlepool, where your journey through Hartlepool’s history and maritime heritage continues.
The adventure doesn’t stop there – just a five-minute walk from the Museum of Hartlepool you’ll find Hartlepool Art Gallery. Formerly the Christ Church, this beautiful Grade-II listed building is currently hosting Charting the Course: Hartlepool’s Maritime Heritage, a remarkable exhibition bringing together ship portraits from the Under Steam Collection, featuring a century of maritime history, alongside treasures from Hartlepool’s own collection.

Children can have fun in the play space area and you can round off your visit by browsing in the gift shop, where you’ll find a tempting range of unique handmade items by local artists.
If you’re staying in the Tees Valley for the weekend, why not explore Hartlepool’s historic Headland – including a visit to the Heugh Battery Museum, which preserves the only First World War battlefield in the UK – and enjoy the golden beach at Seaton Carew? And if you’re an Elvis Presley fan, slip on your blue suede shoes and rock down to Hartlepool Town Hall Theatre to see the UK’s favourite Elvis tribute act, Aaron Walker, on stage on Saturday 7th June! Visit www.creativehartlepool.co.uk for tickets or to discover more things to do in Hartlepool visit www.explorehartlepool.com

Refreshments

If you’re looking for somewhere to enjoy a tasty treat then why not call in to the Vestry Café at Hartlepool Art Gallery in Church Square or visit The Quayside Coffee Shop at the National Museum of the Royal Navy Hartlepool.

For more information about the event go to https://teesvalley-ca.gov.uk/visit/tour-of-britain-women-2025/