The final arrangements are being put in place in the Suffolk Coastal district in preparation for the arrival of the 2015 Aviva Women’s Tour this Wednesday.

The Tour returns to Suffolk Coastal for the second year who will host the finish of the opening stage of the race in Aldeburgh on Wednesday 17 June.

This opening stage will take 96 of the world’s top female cyclists across the county, in a stage entirely within Suffolk, which travels entirely within Suffolk, passing through five boroughs and districts – St Edmundsbury, Mid Suffolk, Babergh, Ipswich and Suffolk Coastal, finishing in the coastal town of Aldeburgh.

The Suffolk Coastal route starts in Rushmere St Andrew and follows onto Kesgrave, Woodbridge, Melton, Eyke, Snape, Benhall, Saxmundham, Leiston, Thorpeness and finishes in Aldeburgh with an expected finish around 2.15pm on Wednesday 17 June. You can find route maps and ETAs for Stage One here.

Last year the Tour was a huge boost to the whole district and helped the local economy and tourism. In total, the Tour brought in around £211,255 in revenue and this is hoped to be repeated again this year.

Cllr TJ Haworth-Culf, Suffolk Coastal District Council's Cabinet Member with responsibility for Customers, Communities and Leisure, said: “The Aviva Women’s Tour is having a tremendous impact on the whole of the county at the moment. 

“Not only is the Tour helping encourage more people to have healthier lifestyles, it’s also having an incredible influence on our local economy as well as giving an added boost to tourism in Suffolk Coastal.

“A lot of hard work has gone into bringing top women riders in the world to our doorsteps in what is a major event in the professional cycling calendar. We are also very pleased to see such a wide range of events taking place to add to the excitement of the Tour.”

At the finish line, as well as seeing some of the world’s best cyclists, the spotlight will be on children from Aldeburgh Primary School who took part in a competition to design posters to celebrate the Aviva Women’s Tour.

Pupils from the school were asked to design posters which will be placed in local shops in the town.

The winners were Daniel Owens (first place) and Sebastian Browning from Year 2 (second place) and Hugo Battle from Year 1 (third place) as pictured above.

The winning designs were chosen by Mike Kiff, Mayor of Aldeburgh, Ruth Proctor, Aldeburgh Town Clerk and Rovert mabey, Chair of the Aldeburgh Business Association.

Prizes will be awarded on the day of the Tour in Aldeburgh at 11am on the podium.

“It’s been really great to see people of all ages and abilities getting involved with the Women’s Tour. I hope one of the lasting things we gain from this event is that it has importantly helped to inspire the next generation to get involved in the sport.”

“Overall, I’m really proud to see our district being giving such positive attention once again and I’m sure people throughout the area will turn out to give their support to this special and exceptional event,” said Cllr Haworth-Culf.

Important information
Parking will be available at the following locations on Wednesday 17 June:
•    King’s Field Recreation Ground, Park Road, Aldeburgh, IP15 5EU (free)
•    School Field, Park Road, Aldeburgh, IP15 5EU (free)
•    Fort Green, High Street, IP15 5BY (paid)
•    King Street, IP15 5BY (paid)
•    Oakley Square, IP15 5BX (paid)
•    Thorpe Road, IP15 5BH (paid)

Free shuttle bus service
A free shuttle bus will be available in Aldeburgh next Wednesday to transport people from the free parking at Kings Field to the finish line.

The bus will leave approximately every 15 minutes from 10.30am to 1.15pm at Kings Field and will return from Dial Lane every 15 minutes from 2.30pm until 3.30pm.

The bus will be fully accessible to wheelchair users. Please note that the Kings Field car park will be locked at 5.30pm.

Suggested vantage points of the race in Suffolk Coastal:
•    Chain Reaction Cycles Sprint – outside Kesgrave High School
•    Shire Hall – Woodbridge
•    Chain Reaction Cycles Sprint – Melton Hill (nr Coach and Horses Pub)
•    Snape Maltings – Snape
•    Strava Queen of the Mountains – from the bridge in Snape 
•    Leiston High Street
•    The Meare in Thorpeness 
•    Moot Hall – Aldeburgh