From Adrian Lane, Exeter 383262, August 29, 2008

THE Tour of Britain, featuring Olympic cycling medallists, will be racing through Devon on Tuesday 9 September and Devon County Council is helping to make it the most colourful stage of the race.

People across the county have the chance to be part of the event and to sample the carnival atmosphere by lining the route.

The 185km stage, hosted by Somerset County Council with the support of Devon County Council, South Somerset District Council, Exmoor National Park Authority and the South West Regional Development Agency, is the longest of the entire race.

It is also expected to be the toughest of the entire tour, setting off from Chard in Somerset, before crossing the Blackdown Hills with a King of the Mountains climb. As it heads through Devon it takes in Tiverton, South Molton and another King of the Mountain climb in North Molton. The stage then continues on to Exmoor and Somerset, finishing in Burnham-on-Sea.

Among the riders competing in the Tour of Britain are Beijing Olympic gold medal winners Bradley Wiggins and Geraint Thomas and bronze medal winner Chris Newton. They will be joined by Mark Cavendish, the only Briton to win four stages of the Tour de France in a single year.

Covering 80km of Devon, Tiverton features in the Tour for the first time. The first sprint of the stage will take place past Blundell's School and the race will pass through the Town centre at around 11:35am. Spectators are urged to arrive by 10am and the best places to view the race will be Fore Street and Gold Street.

Devon County Council cycling ambassador Andrei Burton will be demonstrating his mountain bike trial skills in Gold Street, Tiverton, prior to the race. The Cycle Exeter team will also be on hand in the town with information about cycle routes across the county.

On street parking on Gold Street and Bampton Street will be restricted from 6pm on Monday 8 September, and Gold Street and Bampton Street (from William Street to Newport Street) will be closed from 9:30am to 1pm on the day of the race. However businesses will be open as usual. Parking is available in the public car parks of William Street, Market Place, Beck Square and the multi-storey car park off Phoenix Lane.

The riders will start their second sprint of the stage as they enter South Molton, at around 12:25pm. Spectators need to arrive by 11am and Broad Street will be closed from 9:30am to 3pm for public safety.

The Devon County Council Community Roadshow will be in the town centre, where there will also be a farmers' market. The museum will be open as usual and there will be a special presentation by race sponsor E.ON to South Molton Infants School which won the national schools competition.

Councillor Margaret Rogers, Devon County Council Executive Member for Environment, said: "This is a very exciting and prestigious race with the SW leg being the toughest. It is a great honour that three of Team GBs Olympic medallists are taking part, as is Mark Cavendish who excels in this kind of event. I shall be participating in the start in Chard and hope to extend an early invitation to the launch, planned for 2010, of the Stop Line Cycle Way."

Councillor Des Hannon, Devon County Councillor for Tiverton East and County Council Member Champion for Cycling said: "I'm really pleased that the Tour of Britain is going to come right through the centre of Tiverton. It will be an inspiring experience for our young people in particular, who should be out in force to see some Olympians in our town."

Councillor Mary Turner, Devon County Councillor for Tiverton West, said: "This will be a wonderful sight for everyone and tougher than the Olympics. Good luck and God speed to all."

Councillor Jeremy Yabsley, Devon County Councillor for South Molton Rural, said: "Anticipation is already building ahead of the Tour of Britain coming to South Molton and North Molton and it should provide a spectacular sight for people who turn out to line the route. I'm sure people in the area will be keen to cheer on the cyclists, especially the British competitors who achieved such great success at the Beijing Olympics."

For more information visit: www.devon.gov.uk or www.tourofbritain.co.uk

Getting there:

TIVERTON - M5 junction 27 and onto the A361 into the town centre. From Exeter take the A396 north. From Exmoor direction the A396 southbound.

SOUTH MOLTON - Arrive early if arriving via roads affected by the race route to avoid the road closures. These include the B3137 from Tiverton (the North Devon Link Road A361 is an alternative) and Station Road from North Molton and the A361. From Barnstaple take the A361, from Exeter head towards Barnstaple on the A377 and take a right turn onto the B3226 or the B3227 to South Molton.

Notes for Editors:

Councillor Margaret Rogers, 01297 680384.

Councillor Des Hannon, 01884 253627.

Councillor Mary Turner, 01884 254750.

Councillor Jeremy Yabsley, 01884 860745.