On Friday, September 9 the world’s top cycling teams and riders will race from Sidmouth to the summit of Haytor on Dartmoor and Doug Bosley, who works for WAFA Emergency Medical Vehicles, will be able to watch the finish in style after winning a prize draw held by stage six hosts Devon County Council.
The draw was held at the beginning of National Bike Week and the tickets give Doug and his guest full access to the VIP Hospitality tent at Haytor the perfect position to watch the only summit climb of Britain’s premier cycle race.
This year almost 130 people were entered into the draw after taking up Devon County Council’s Haytor Cycling Challenge at the Devon County Show last month.
The challenge, organised by the Bike Shed in Exeter and sports science expert Andy Middlebrooke of Exercise Science Consulting Ltd, saw people of all ages cycle the equivalent of the last uphill stretch of this year’s stage finish at Haytor on a stationary bike.
The final leg-burning 176-yard ascent is what the competitors will have to face at the end of a gruelling 150-mile stage in September.
Everyone who took up the challenge was entered into a prize draw, with the winner randomly drawn by DCC’s cabinet member for highways, Cllr Stuart Hughes.
Doug Bosley said: “The cycle challenge was tough, but I’m a keen mountain biker so I’m pretty used to hill climbs. I have never watched the Tour of Britain live before and I’m really looking forward to it.”
Cllr Hughes said: “The Devon Stages in 2013 and 2014 were unforgettable occasions. Record breaking crowds turned out across the county and this year’s stage promises to provide another great show case for our beautiful county.
“It’s appropriate that Doug was presented with the tickets during National Bike Week. Bike Week, like the Tour of Britain, are opportunities to inspire people all ages from the young to the retired to get on their bikes and start cycling to improve health, to help the environment and because its fun.”
After leaving Sidmouth on September 9 the Tour of Britain will go to Ottery St Mary, Honiton and Willand, then Tiverton and along the A3072 from Bickleigh to Crediton, up Crediton High Street and through Copplestone and Bow to de Bathe Cross, near North Tawton and Whiddon Down to Moretonhampstead, Haldon Forest, and Chudleigh before climbing from Bovey Tracey to the only summit finish of The Tour at Haytor.