Start: Bury St Edmunds, Angel Hill
Finish: Aldeburgh, Market Cross
Total distance: 112km / 70 miles
Organisers have chosen to begin the 2015 tour where last year’s event left off, with stage one setting off from Bury St Edmunds at 11am.
The race will begin with a 10km neautralised section before a short climb and then a drop into Ipswich – the largest town in Suffolk, so a great place to pitch up and watch if you get there early.
About 30 miles in is the first QOM climb, at Hemingstone, where riders compete for the Strava spotted jersey. Times are all approximate but they should be reaching the stretch at around 12.15pm, racing for the points for about 1 mile (from 29.7 miles > 30.9).
The first sprint is in Kesgrave as the peloton heads closer to the coast, and the action takes place just outside Kesgrave High School – at approximately 12.45 if you want to head out to watch.
The second sprint is at Melton, 48 miles in, on Melton Road outside the Coach & Horses. The lead cars and first riders are expected at about 1pm, and the sprint comes just after a descent which should make for an impressive display of speed.
The second QOM climb comes in at 58 miles, on a short sharp roll at Snape, it’s around a half mile stretch, outside the Crown Pub and should take place some time around 1.30pm.
The final stretch will see the riders race along the seafront to Aldeburgh – using straight, open roads along the Beach and North Sea – meaning if it’s a blustery day the wind could play a key role in the finish. The peloton is expected to be approaching at around 2pm.
As a whole, the route is fairly flat, open, and next to the coast – so head winds are likely to play a role at some point along the way and a final sprint for the line is a likely conclusion.
See Stage One at Home
If you can’t get to the roadside, you can catch the highlights on ITV, from 8-9pm, or tune into the Aviva Tour YouTube channel, or follow the live updates from our TWC Twitter feed.
Want to know more? Get all the essential Women’s Tour info here.
