The north coast gets in gear for Giro d’Italia arrival next month

Whether you’re a cycling fan or not, the advice being given out ahead of the Giro d’Italia’s arrival in the town next month is ‘be prepared’.
By The Newsroom
Published 29th Apr 2014, 13:26 BST
Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister, Arlene Foster, is pictured with Stephen Roche, who was today inducted into the Giro dItalia Hall of Fame. The Giro dItalia Big Start will take place from 9th to 14th May across Belfast, the Causeway Coast and Glens and Armagh before finishing in Dublin. Photo by William Cherry/PresseyeEnterprise, Trade and Investment Minister, Arlene Foster, is pictured with Stephen Roche, who was today inducted into the Giro dItalia Hall of Fame. The Giro dItalia Big Start will take place from 9th to 14th May across Belfast, the Causeway Coast and Glens and Armagh before finishing in Dublin. Photo by William Cherry/Presseye
Enterprise, Trade and Investment Minister, Arlene Foster, is pictured with Stephen Roche, who was today inducted into the Giro dItalia Hall of Fame. The Giro dItalia Big Start will take place from 9th to 14th May across Belfast, the Causeway Coast and Glens and Armagh before finishing in Dublin. Photo by William Cherry/Presseye

Northern Ireland will host ‘The Big Start’ of the race, welcoming 200 of the world’s top cyclists, from May 9-11 and they will pass through Ballymena on their journey around the North Coast and back to Belfast on Day Two (May 10).

Attracting over 140,000 visitors with 42,000 expected to be out of state, it is a huge event capable of generating a minimum £10m media coverage which will be viewed by an estimated 800million people worldwide.

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Speaking at a media briefing in Ballymena last Tuesday, Eddie Rowan of the Northern Ireland Tourist Board, which made the successful bid to bring Giro to the province, said he believed it to be “the biggest event that has ever happened to this country, bar none”.

The estimated time of arrival in Ballymoney for the Giro Caravan, which goes ahead of the race, on May 10 is 11.00am, with the cyclists ETA 12.35pm.

Given the scale of the race and its entourage, the number of spectators it will attract, plus the need to keep people safe, Assistant Chief Constable Alan Todd confirmed “there will be disruption” but organisers will do all they can to keep disruption to a minimum.

He said that some roads will have to be closed, up to a maximum of four hours, to facilitate the event.

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The event will see a “bubble” of riders move around the routes with roads re-opened behind them.

There will, however, be controlled crossing points to faciliate access across the local route.

“My advice to people is - if you are a cycling fan make your plans early, get up early and get a good place. If you’re not, have a lie in, make plans for somewhere else that day. - If you don’t want to be part of it, give it a wide berth,” said ACC Todd.

BALLYMONEY & MOYLE ROAD CLOSURES:

(9.30-1pm)

Dunloy A26 - Drumadoon Road - Killagan Road,

A26 - Kilraughts Road,

Portrush Road Roundabout/A26 Frosses Road.

(10am-1.30pm) Portrush Rd Roundabout/B62 Ballybogey Road;

Ballybogey, the B62 Ballyrashane Rd- Benvardin Rd and Cloyfin Rd -Priestland Rd;

Bushmills, the A2, The Diamond/Dunluce Rd.

(10.30am-2.30pm) Bushmills, The Diamond/Whitepark Rd

Ballycastle, Clare Rd/Quay Rd.

(11am-3.30pm) Ballycastle, Mary St/A2,

Related topics:Northern IrelandBallymenaBelfast