‘Roads will be closed for race so be prepared’ – PSNI

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 Larne on their journey around the north coast and back to Belfast on Day Two (May 10).

Attracting over 140,000 visitors, it is a huge event which will be viewed by an estimated 800 million people.

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 said “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 to facilitate the event. There will be a “bubble” of riders moving around the routes with roads re-opened behind them.

Locally, the Larne Rd will be closed from the junction at Island Road/Island Road through to Carrickfergus at 1pm-4.30pm, as will the Belfast Road from Carrick through to Rushpark roundabout, Whiteabbey.

The estimated time of arrival in Carrick for the Giro caravan, which goes ahead of the race, is 2.15pm with the cyclists ETA at 3.45pm.