Tour of Britain Women: Lancashire roads close on 20 August
Stage two of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women will cross Lancashire on Thursday 20 August, bringing professional cycling and temporary road closures to communities between Clitheroe and Blackpool.
The free spectator event starts in Clitheroe at 11:30am and is scheduled to finish beside Blackpool’s Mirror Ball at about 2:50pm. It is open to the general public, including families and residents who want to watch the riders pass through their town or village. The announcement contains no booking, accessibility or public-transport information.
A 70-mile race from Clitheroe to the coast
This will be the first time the women’s race has passed through Lancashire. Some of the world’s top cyclists will leave Clitheroe before following a route of more than 70 miles through the county’s towns, villages and challenging climbs.
Read also: Free Lloyds Tour of Britain Women races from Clitheroe to Blackpool
The race heads through Chatburn, Grindleton, Bolton-by-Bowland, Tosside, Slaidburn, Newton-in-Bowland and Waddington before returning through southern Clitheroe. It then continues towards Sabden, Whalley, Hurst Green, Ribchester, Longridge and Goosnargh.
From there, riders move west through Woodplumpton, Catforth, Inskip with Sowerby, Elswick, Singleton and surrounding Fylde communities. The closing stretch passes through Lytham St Annes and finishes on Blackpool’s New South Promenade beside the Mirror Ball.
Readers following the earlier stage can also consult the Cockermouth race-day road closure guide.
Lancashire closure windows along the route
Lancashire County Council says most roads will be affected for approximately 30 to 40 minutes while the race convoy passes. The published windows are broader in several locations to cover the moving event, while the Clitheroe start area will have restrictions from 9am.
| Location | Estimated closure window |
|---|---|
| Clitheroe start area | 9am–1pm |
| Chatburn | 11:15am–12pm |
| Grindleton | 11:20am–12:05pm |
| Sawley | 11:25am–12:10pm |
| Bolton-by-Bowland | 11:30am–12:20pm |
| Tosside | 11:40am–12:25pm |
| Slaidburn | 11:45am–12:30pm |
| Newton-in-Bowland | 11:50am–12:35pm |
| Waddington | 12pm–12:45pm |
| Clitheroe south route | 12:05pm–1pm |
| Pendleton and Sabden | 12:10pm–1pm and 12:15pm–1pm |
| Whalley | 12:25pm–1:10pm |
| Hurst Green and Ribchester | 12:35pm–1:25pm |
| Longridge | 12:45pm–1:30pm |
| Goosnargh | 1pm–1:40pm |
| Woodplumpton and Catforth | 1:05pm–1:50pm |
| Inskip with Sowerby | 1:15pm–2pm |
| Elswick | 1:20pm–2:05pm |
| Greenhalgh with Thistleton | 1:25pm–2:10pm |
| Singleton | 1:30pm–2:15pm |
| Weeton with Preese | 1:35pm–2:20pm |
| Westby with Plumptons | 1:40pm–2:30pm |
| Lytham St Annes | 1:50pm–2:50pm |
| Blackpool New South Promenade | Finish area; no closure window stated |
Start-area restrictions and race-day travel
The longest restrictions affect the Clitheroe start area, including Woone Lane, Moor Lane, Castle Gate, Castle Street, Market Place, York Street, King Lane, Wellgate, King Street and Chatburn Road. Roads on the finishing approach through Lytham St Annes include Park View Road, Station Road, East Beach, Central Beach, West Beach, Clifton Drive and Squires Gate Lane.
All timings are estimates because this is a live race, and individual closures may remain in place slightly longer than planned. Emergency vehicle access will be maintained throughout the event.
Stewards will also preserve pedestrian access to Clitheroe Grammar School, where some students will be collecting their GCSE results that day. Council leader Stephen Atkinson asked residents and spectators to plan ahead and allow extra time for journeys. Anyone travelling along the route should work from the earliest published closure time for their location rather than the expected arrival of the riders.
Source: Lancashire County Council News
Context & actions About this article
Source check How this guide was checked
The route, event time and indicative closure windows were checked against Lancashire County Council’s published race-day information.
- Confirmed the event date, 11:30am Clitheroe start and Blackpool finish.
- Matched the listed communities with their published rolling closure windows.
- Retained the council’s warning that live-event timings may be extended.
- Confirmed that emergency and pedestrian access arrangements remain in place.
- Source
- Lancashire County Council News
- Scope
- Lancashire
- Updated
- 2026-08-18 16:32
Source check
Report a trust issue
Send a clear signal to community moderation if the source, facts or context need review.
Comments