British Cycling is working with the Tour of Britain to recruit marshals and stewards for this year’s event. They would like to hear from clubs who can raise a group of 10 volunteers, to help marshal/steward crossing points at sprints, king of mountain’s sprints, starts and finishes. For the criterium stages in Glasgow, Birmingham and London the Tour of Britain will need about 60 people around each circuit. Each sprint or king of the mountains’ prime will need 10 volunteers. Each start and finish will need 20 volunteers.

How long will you have to be there?:
Volunteers will be expected to arrive one hour before the Tours ETA and then will be able to leave once the broom wagon has passed whilst Volunteers at the starts and finishes will be expected to be there from one hour before the ETA and then leave an hour after the race has finished. For example the stage in London will have a whole days racing.

What’s in it for you?
• You will have the chance to be officially involved in the Tour of Britain
• An official Tour of Britain volunteer T-shirt
• A Tour of Britain high-visibility tabard
• Some refreshments
• A goodie bag including a Tour of Britain programme
• 10 British Cycling bronze memberships paid for by the Tour of Britain

So it’s well worth the effort. Unfortunately, the Tour of Britain will not be able to pay travelling expenses so please chose somewhere in your locale.

So is there an age limit?
Yes volunteers need to aged 18 years or above. Unless they are members of a Go-Ride club in which case they need to be 14 or above and accompanied by an adult. There will be one super prize awarded to the best-marshalled point throughout the Tour of Britain. For more details, please contact Robert Jefferies

The Stages in more detail (sorry no map as yet)

Prelude (Monday 29 August 2005)
1. Mass participation ride followed by
2. Glasgow criterium stage part of the Elite Circuit series 7pm-8pm

Stage 1 (Tuesday 30 August 2005)
1. Start Glasgow 10.30am
2. Sprint Cumnock 12.00pm
3. Sprint Kirkconnel 12.40pm
4. Sprint Dumfries 2.00pm
5. Finish Castle Douglas 3.15pm

Stage 2 (Wednesday 31 August 2005)
1. Start Carlisle 10.45am
2. Sprint Penrith 11.30am
3. Sprint Shap 11.45am
4. KoM Shap (Forest Hall) 12.10pm
5. Sprint Kendal 12.30pm
6. Kom Kendal 12.50pm
7. Finish Blackpool prom 2.50pm

Stage 3 (Thursday 1 September 2005)
1. Start Leeds (Millennium sq) 10.00am
2. Sprint Otley 10.45am
3. Climb Cow and Calf 11.50pm
4. Sprint Huddersfield 12.45pm
5. KoM Holme Moss 1.15pm
6. KoM Snake pass 1.45pm
7. Sprint Hathersage 2.10pm
8. Finish Sheffield 2.30pm

Stage 4 (Friday 2 September 2005)
1. Start Buxton 10.30am
2. Kom Cromford 11.20am
3. Sprint Duffield (prime sprint)
4. Sprint Derby
5. Sprint Loughborough
6. Sprint Leicester
7. KoM Kettleby (nr Melton Mowbray)
8. KoM Upper Broughton
9. Finish Nottingham (Trent Bridge Meadows)

The timings for stage four are still being calculated as the route is still being finalised, but this (above) will give you an idea…

Stage 5 (Saturday 3 September 2005)
Circuit race in Birmingham (the details still need to be confirmed)

Stage 6 (Sunday 4 September 2005)
Circuit race in Westminster London, there will be a whole days activity.

For more on this year’s Tour of Britain

And for more on BC membership go here