Dartmoor to be high point of 2012 Tour of Britain

Dartmoor will officially be the 'high point' of this year’s Tour of Britain. The summit of the Skoda King of the Mountain’s climb at Merrivale is 454m – the highest of any climb on this year’s eight-day race. Together with another category one climb at Coffin Stone near Dartmeet just moments later, Dartmoor is set to provide another severe challenge for the professional cyclists during the Devon Stage of The Tour on Saturday 15 September. Starting in Barnstaple and finishing in Dartmouth, the Devon Stage will cover 106 miles (170.7km) of the county.

The riders, including Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins and Road Race World Champion Mark Cavendish, will spend almost two hours of the race in Dartmoor National Park as the route takes in Okehampton, Lydford, Tavistock, Princetown, Poundsgate and Ashburton.

DNPA’s popular Freewheeler bike bus service will run from Ashburton (08:30), Yelverton (10:00) and Tavistock (11:00) taking bikes and their owners up to Princetown. Those who book a trip on this service will arrive in time to enjoy a great day and then have a mainly downhill cycle back home.

Please arrive in plenty of time and park responsibly. Those arriving early to get the best vantage points will be able to enjoy watching the Active Dartmoor King of the Mountains team ride that takes place on the Merrivale to Princetown section from 09:30. Come along and watch local cycle clubs and corporate teams compete over the same climb as the professionals.

Princetown will have plenty to entertain all the family with a climbing wall provided by Dart Rock, Crazy Bikes and tight-rope walking from Essential Adventure. Admission to DNPA's High Moorland Visitor Centre will be free, and a special film starring Tour competitor and 2011 King of the Mountains Jon Tiernan-Locke, as well as Great Britain mountain bike team member Andrei Burton, will be screened in the Centre. There will be a special Tour discount on the latest cycle map of Dartmoor showing all the legal off-road routes and designated cyclepaths. Children can visit the Ranger Ralph stand, make something crafty and pick up free ‘Spokey Dokeys’ for their bike.

There will be special discounts from Foxtor and Lords cafés, the opportunity to take a guided mountain bike tour ( bike hire available at Foxtor Café) and a free bus service from Princetown to the Merrivale King of the Mountains section. For more about the Freewheeler service or guided mountain bike tours contact tourism@dartmoor.gov.uk or see www.dartmoor.gov.uk/cycling for details of designated car parks and lay-bys along the route.

The Devon Stage will also race through Bideford, Hatherleigh, Instow, Great Torrington, Buckfastleigh, Kingsbridge, Torcross and Stoke Fleming.

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