Tour of Britain Women: Lancashire roads close 20 August

Name: Lloyds Tour of Britain Women - Stage Two
Start: 2026-08-20T11:30:00+01:00
End: 2026-08-20T14:50:00+01:00
Location: Clitheroe to Blackpool

beehiveweb.co.uk editorial team 2026-08-17 16:05 3 min read

A large group of female professional cyclists racing together on a narrow forest road.

Stage two of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women comes to Lancashire on Thursday 20 August, with a free spectator event stretching from Clitheroe to Blackpool. The race starts in Clitheroe at 11:30am and is scheduled to finish beside Blackpool’s Mirror Ball at about 2:50pm.

Lancashire County Council says rolling road closures will follow the riders through more than 70 miles of towns and villages. Anyone attending the race—or travelling near the route—should allow extra time because the published windows are estimates for a live event.

A Lancashire first from Clitheroe to the coast

Some of the world’s leading professional cyclists will leave Clitheroe before racing through the Ribble Valley, rural Fylde and Lytham St Annes. The final section heads towards Blackpool’s New South Promenade for a sprint beside the Mirror Ball.

This is the first time a stage of the women’s race has passed through Lancashire, although the men’s Tour of Britain has previously visited the county. County council leader Stephen Atkinson said organisers expect residents to support the riders as they tackle the county’s climbs and pass through local communities.

The route runs through Chatburn, Grindleton, Sawley, Bolton-by-Bowland, Tosside, Slaidburn, Newton-in-Bowland and Waddington before returning through southern Clitheroe. It then continues via Pendleton, Sabden, Whalley, Hurst Green, Ribchester and Longridge, followed by communities across the Fylde on the way to Blackpool.

Estimated closure windows along the route

The windows below indicate when rolling restrictions are expected in each area. Most individual roads should be affected for around 30 to 40 minutes, but closures may last slightly longer if the live race schedule changes.

Tour of Britain Women: Lancashire roads close 20 August

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	12:10pm–1pm
Sabden	12:15pm–1pm
Whalley	12:25pm–1:10pm
Hurst Green	12:35pm–1:20pm
Ribchester	12:40pm–1:25pm
Longridge	12:45pm–1:30pm
Goosnargh	1pm–1:40pm
Woodplumpton	1:05pm–1:45pm
Catforth	1:10pm–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	Finish on New South Promenade

Streets where drivers should plan for disruption

The longest scheduled restriction is around the Clitheroe start. Roads affected between 9am and 1pm include Woone Lane, Moor Lane, Castle Gate, Castle Street, Market Place, York Street, King Lane, Wellgate, King Street and Chatburn Road.

In Whalley, the route uses Whalley Road, Sabden Road, Portfield Road, Accrington Road, King Street, Station Road and Mitton Road. Longridge restrictions cover Lower Road, Lower Lane, Dilworth Lane, King Street, Market Place, Kestor Lane and Whittingham Road.

The race reaches Lytham St Annes through Park View Road and Station Road before following East Beach, Central Beach, West Beach and sections of Clifton Drive. It then continues along Squires Gate Lane towards the Blackpool finish. Further Blackpool festival details provide broader information for spectators.

People travelling anywhere near the course should plan around the estimated window rather than relying on an exact reopening time. The council confirms that emergency vehicle access will be maintained throughout the event.

Stewards will also preserve pedestrian access to Clitheroe Grammar School while some students collect their GCSE results. The source provides no separate accessibility, parking or public transport arrangements for spectators.

Source: Lancashire County Council News

Context & actions About this article

Source check Source trail

Event details and estimated closure windows were checked against the notice published by Lancashire County Council News.

Checks

Confirmed the race date, 11:30am Clitheroe start and Blackpool finish.
Matched the route communities with the council’s published sequence.
Retained the council’s warning that closure windows may change during the live event.
Checked the stated arrangements for emergency access and Clitheroe Grammar School pedestri...

Lancashire County Council News Check wider coverage