Tour of Britain: Durham to Sunderland – all you need to know

Durham has never previously hosted a stage start or finish in a professional edition of the Tour of Britain.

Stage three’s route will initially head west, taking the peloton through the North Pennines AONB, before heading back through County Durham and into Sunderland.

Among the challenges in the opening 50 kilometres of the 168-kilometre route is the ascent of Chapel Fell, a four-kilometre climb located near the County Durham and Cumbria border.

Barnard Castle marks the most southerly point of the route, as the peloton will then head north east through Bishop Auckland, Hetton-le-Hole and Houghton le Spring en route to a finish that will suit the sprinters.

The route will weave past some of the city’s green spaces and through communities on its approach to the finish line outside of Sunderland’s new City Hall.

Read more: Tour of Britain: When does it come through County Durham?

Here is a timetable of the times the race is expected to pass through key points of route:

Roll out - Durham – St Mary’s College 11:15am

Kilometre 0 - B6302 Durham Road – Ushaw Moor 11:30am

Stanhope 12:12pm

Chapel Fell 12:35pm

Billy Lane 1:33pm

Bishop Auckland 2:01pm

Ferryhill 2:15pm

High Moorsley 2:55pm

Sunderland – Keel Square 3:23pm

Tuesday's stage three route will take in a large portion of County Durham. Picture: SWPix

Car parking

The stage three start takes place in Durham City centre, which is only two miles from the A1(M). Leave the motorway at Junction 62 on the A690 Durham - Sunderland road and follow signs to Durham City centre.

Information on Durham City car parks can be found on the Durham County Council website Durham City Park and Ride information can also be found on the Durham County Council website.

There a number of ways of travelling to Sunderland, where stage three will finish at Keel Square at 3:23pm. Ensure you plan your journey in advance and wherever possible travel using sustainable and active transport options.

Parking in the city centre will be limited during the event, so use public transport if you can.

There are limited car parks nearby which you can view here. There is also a pay and display car park at The Bridges Sunderland which is just a short walk to Keel Square. St Mary’s Car Park and Livingstone Road Car Park will not be accessible on day of the event

Road closures

Please note that some road closures will be in place in Durham to facilitate the event. Diversion routes will be signposted.

To allow the stage area finish to be built, there will be road closures in place in Sunderland city centre.

These include:

• St Mary's Way: closed from 6am – 7pm on Tuesday 6 September

• St Mary’s car park and Livingstone Road car park closed from 6am – 7pm on Tuesday 6 September • Wearmouth Bridge closed from 1pm to approximately 4.30pm on Tuesday 6 September

Wearmouth Bridge will remain open for bus routes.

Entertainment

Keel Square will include catering, toilets and first aid. The site is fully accessible, however visitors will need to plan their visit due to St Mary’s Car Park and Livingstone Road Car Park not being available. The stage finish will take place on St Mary’s Way in the city centre with Keel Square hosting the official event village.

Big screens will be showing full live coverage of the race in advance of the peloton arriving at the finish line. Event sponsors will also be on hand and this is also where the podium, upon which the stage winner and jerseys wearers will be presented, is located.

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