Tour of Wessex 2021

The Tour of Wessex 2021 features 2 self supported ride options:

• 330 miles in 3 days.
• 220 miles in 3 days
  

The event Start/Finish and parking is Huish Academy, Wincanton Road, Langport, TA10 9SS

Event Overview

Stage 1 – Somerset & Wiltshire

Distance 101 miles & 78 miles

Date: 29/05/2021

Start Time 08:00

Start Location: Langport

Finish Location: Langport

Stage 2 – Somerset & Dorset

Distance: 116 miles & 82 miles

Date: 30/05/2021

Start Time: 08:00

Start Location: Langport

Finish Location: Langport

Stage 3 – Somerset & Exmoor

Distance 109 miles & 64 miles

Date 31/05/2021

Start Time: 08:00

Start Location: Langport

Finish Location: Langport

All rider information is available electronically. Please read the PDF Ride Guide sent by email 3 weeks prior to the event carefully

Ride Numbers are not required due to the self supported nature of the event in 2021.

Earth Sports Event App

• Results will be available via the Earth Sports app
• Live tracking - friends and family are able to follow your progress via the Earth Sports app on their phone or tablet. If you wish to live track start the Map My Tracks Endurance app which will run in the background. While the app draws very little power from you battery please ensure that your phone is fully charged before the ride

Timing

Please create an account with Map My Tracks (it’s like Strava) and connect your Garmin, Wahoo, Polar or other fitness device to your account. After the ride please upload your ride data and it will automatically propagate the finishers list.

Once you have uploaded your ride data to the Map my tracks platform it will display your start and finish time as well as on route split times for the main climbs on each stage

Route map

Electronic download of the route is available to download onto your bicycle computer, see routes.

Ride guide

A check list of equipment you may require and essential information about the ride, including suggest feed stops and location on static mechanical support.

Car Parking

Car parking is free in the designated parking bays at Huish Academy, TA10 9ss

Start Times

08:00 -09:00 each day for both Standard and Medium routes. Just roll over the start line when your ready in a group of up to six people.

Route Navigation

Navigation is via your gps enabled cycle computer.

Safety Points

You will be riding on the open road alongside other traffic so it is essential for your own safety and that of all other road users that you comply with ALL TRAFFIC REGULATIONS.

In the event of an accident

If you are involved in a serious accident requiring immediate medical attention then ring 999, due to self supported nature of the event the organisers are unable to provide any assistance.

Assistance During the Ride

Static mechanical support can be found at these locations, please ensure you have a means of payment for labour cost and parts:

Stage 1

(i) Xpressofix - The Post and Wicket, Wedmore Playing Fields, Wedmore BS28 4BS
(ii) Cheddar Bikes, Lower N St, Cheddar BS27 3HA (400 meters off route)
(iii) Bike City, 8 Queen St, Wells BA5 2DP (400 meters off route)
(iv) Xpressofix - Station Road Car Park, Bruton BA10 0EG

Stage 2

(i) Xpressofix - Cerne Giant Viewpoint, 38 Acreman St, Cerne Abbas, DT2 7JX
(ii) Velo Lounge - E Burton Rd, Wool, BH20 6HE
(iii) Xpressofix - Londis Car Park, Milton Rd, Milborne St Andrew, DT11 0JZ

Stage 3

(i) Xpressofix - Dead Woman’s Ditch, Over Stowey, TA4 4AB
(ii) Exmoor Bike Repair - 1 Lower Marshfield Rd, Minehead TA24 6AE (Call Mark prior to arrival 07920 047901)
(iii) Porlock Pedals - Unit 3, The Old Tannery, High St, Porlock, TA24 8PU (Call Matt prior to arrival 07773 377735)
(iv) Xpressofix - Raleghs Cross Inn, Exmoor, TA23 0LN
(v) Taunton & Somerset Bike Servicing - Ham, Taunton TA3 5NZ (Call prior to arrival 07756 667519)

Bike Shop - Nearest location (13 Miles from HQ)

Tri UK, 76 Lyde Rd, Pen Mill Trading Estate, Yeovil BA21 5DW

Tel: 0343 777 1768

• Saturday 9am–6pm
• Sunday 10am–4pm
• Monday 9am–6pm

There are cut-off times at which the moto marshals will stand down. The sweep vehicle will be traveling along the route at 20kmh/12.5 mph and will be collecting signage as it goes. If it catches up with you, you can either be transported to the finish or if you wish to continue on at your own pace you may but be aware these will be no signage. The finish closes at 5:30 pm each day. If you arrive after this time you will not receive a time or finishing place for that stage

N.B. If you decided to continue after the sweep vehicle has passed you, you will have to navigate your own route, and you will also no longer be covered by the event support services. If you do this, or drop-out at any other stage, then you must call the organiser to report this to the event team. The event app will provide you with a time even if the finish line has officially closed.

Riders Code of Conduct

You will be riding on public roads, so you must obey Highway Code regulations. Any rider seen not complying with the code could be reported and we are obliged to provide their details to the police.

Litter – There will be litter and recycling skips at the event HQ and at feed stations. Please use them and don’t drop any litter it gives cyclists a bad name!

Ride Guide

Traffic Regulations: Although there will be traffic management at key stages of the event, plus support from police and local authorities in planning the event, the Tour of Wessex Cyclosportive does take place on public roads, so you need to follow Highway Code regulations just as you would on a regular ride. You should be confident that you can ride in the following road conditions:

• Busy urban main roads
• Town centre traffic
• De-restricted rural roads
• Narrow country lanes
• Complex roundabouts
• Riding in potentially large groups

The Tour of Wessex is a non competitive event. Whilst many experienced cyclosportive riders will be keen to record a quick time, the event is not a race so do not treat it as one. Your safety and that of other road uses is paramount.

What Bike:

When choosing a bike for the event, you need to take into account your ability to maintain the minimum average speed cut off of 20kmh (12.5mph) over the route distance. Therefore an efficient, comfortable and well maintained bike is essential.

What to bring:

Because the ride is self supported we recommend that you bring a multi tool, two spare tubes, tyre levers, a working pump and adequate hydration and food. You have a fully charged mobile phone with you with the Earth Sports app installed and a small amount of cash in case of emergencies.

What to wear:

All riders are advised that it is compulsory to wear a correctly fitting cycle helmet that conforms to current UK safety standards. Sorry, no helmet, no ride.

Because the event takes place on the public road, you are strongly advised to wear hi visibility clothing of some sort. Being that the event is held at the end of May, weather conditions can change rapidly! Therefore, we advise that you wear adequate layers, arm and leg warmers, gilet and a waterproof jacket. We recommend that you wear proper padded cycling shorts and a pair of cycling mitts, both of which will also add to your comfort levels on what will be a long day in the saddle for even the fittest of cyclosportive riders. It has been known to be sunny at that time of year, so make sure you protect yourself with a high factor sun block!

Dropping Out:

If you need to drop out of the ride you will need to make arrangement to get yourself back to your car. This is a self supported event and the organisers bear no responsibility to get you back to the start. If you are concerned about getting back to the start we suggest you take out cycle breakdown cover with a company like ETA

Medical Cover:

First-aid cover is not provided as the Tour of Wessex 2021 event.

Refreshments:

No refreshments before or after the ride with will be provided.

Feed Stations

Toilets:

We are only able to provide car parking at the start so please ensure you have made a toilet break before you arrive at the Start.

Showers:

Showers are not available

After the Finish:

You will finish the event each day at the HQ, once you have passed the finish line (upload your ride data to Map my Tracks and it will sync to the Earth Sports event app. Please clear the finish area and return to your vehicle.

Finish Times:

A list of finishers and times will be posted on www.earthsports.co.uk the day after the event or immediately via the event app.

Age categories will be as follows:

A : 18 to 29 years

D: 50 to 59 years

B : 30 to 39 years

E: 60 years and over

C: 40-49 years

F: Para Cycling

* To calculate Women’s age categories add 20 minutes

Time bands are printed in the event program.

General Queries:

Contact Earth Sports: admin.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)

Event HQ

The Start/Finish is Huish Academy, Wincanton Rd, Langport TA10 9SS

Getting to the Tour of Wessex

The closest international airports are Bristol (38 miles), Heathrow (100 miles), Southampton (60 miles), Exeter (60 miles).

Drive time: Bristol to event – 40 mins, Heathrow to event 2 hrs.

Train service: From Heathrow take airbus to Reading then a train to Castle Cary or Taunton (Somerset). Or airbus to Woking and a train to Yeovil.

Sea

From St Malo, France to Poole, Dorset. 4hr 30 mins Condor Ferries

Road

• From central London (120 miles) 2hrs – 2 hr 30 mins. Take the M3 then the A303. At the Podimore roundabout take A372 direction Langport.
• From the West take the A303, At the Podimore roundabout take A372 direction Langport.
• From Bristol take the M5 to Jct 23, then the A39 direction Street and Glastonbury. At Street take B3151 to Langport.

Rail

• The nearest train stations are Taunton (14 miles) Castle Cary (17.5 miles), Yeovil (14 miles). Further information can be found at National Rail Inquiries.

Coaches

• From London (Hammersmith) to Taunton (Berrys Coaches)
• From Bristol to Yeovil (National Express)

Camping

Camping is not available at The Rose and Crown Inn this year due to Covid, we suggest booking at either of the following, which are within 3 miles of the

start:

• https://www.brookfarmcampsite.co.uk/
• http://www.thorneylakes.co.uk/
• http://www.bowdenscrest.co.uk/

B&B
Hotels & Inns
Caravan site

• The Lodge Old Kelways
• Orchardleigh
• Arundels Farm
• Edenhurst
• All’s Well Farm house
• Hillside House
• Orchard Barn
• The Parsonage
• Cleers View Farm
• Long Orchard House
• Lynch Country House
• Rickham House
• Bartletts Farm
• Burrow Hill Bed & Breakfast
• Lower Farm
• Amberly
• The Old Bakery
• Walkers Farm Cottages
• Sunnyside
• Old Pound Inn
• Studio Farrows
• Higher Farm
• Muchelney Ham Farm
• Merrick’s Organic Farm Cottages

• The Langport Arms
• The Devonshire Arms
• The Unicorn Hotel
• The White Hart
• Premier Inn Glastonbury
• Premier Inn Yeovil
• Ash House Hotel
• Rose & Crown East Lyng

• Thorney Lakes
• Bowdens Crest

1. It is our collective responsibility to ensure that all participants, volunteers and the public are kept safe. Participating in cycling carries an inevitable degree of risk, and while we must remain mindful of the additional guidelines regarding Covid-19, participants should not lose sight of the normal safety considerations relating to participating in cycling which continue to apply and must be complied with.
2. If people act irresponsibly when participating in cycling events (including while socialising before and afterwards) they jeopardise public health and undermine the case for safe sport to take place.
3. The Tour of Wessex 2021 is a self supported timed challenge ride not a fully supported cyclosportive. The event will revert to a fully supported format in 2022 .
4. Dangerous riding will not be tolerated either by the organisers or the Police.
5. All entrants bikes must be in good working order for the event.
6. All participants are reminded that it is unlawful and an offence against public decency to urinate in public places such as the start area, in towns, villages or near occupied areas including the sports fields of the HQ. Offenders will be removed from the event and reported to the police.
7. Ride with care and attention to other road users and pedestrians, with especial care around horses and livestock. Slow down to 5 mph and make them aware you are approaching. Shout out Cyclist behind.
8. Do not litter it jeopardises the future of the event and ruins the beautiful countryside you have been cycling through.
9. Show consideration to other road users, by allowing them room to pass even if they don’t respect your space.
10. Never ride more than two abreast and don’t attempt any dangerous passing.
11. Some riders will be inexperienced so keep your distance at all times and do not go mad down hills as some are steep and contain sharp bends and narrow sections.
12. Please signal any intention to turn left or right and don’t stop suddenly; there will most likely be people behind you. If you do stop shout “stopping” and hold your hand up in the air to indicate your intention
    
13. It is compulsory to wear a helmet.
    
14. It is compulsory to carry a facemask.
15. It is compulsory to carry hand sanitiser
    
16. Carry a £1 coin for the Porlock Scenic road toll on Stage 3 (long route). The toll keepers hut is located 2.3 km after the start of the climb