SIDMOUTH will come to a standstill today when the town-centre hosts the start of the Devon stage of the Tour of Britain.

Sidmouth Herald: Mark Cavendish in action during the third stage, the Individual Time Trial in the 2013 Tour of Britain in Knowsley. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday September 17, 2013. See PA story CYCLING Tour of Britain. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA WireMark Cavendish in action during the third stage, the Individual Time Trial in the 2013 Tour of Britain in Knowsley. PRESS ASSOCIATION Photo. Picture date: Tuesday September 17, 2013. See PA story CYCLING Tour of Britain. Photo credit should read: Martin Rickett/PA Wire (Image: PA Wire)

Among riders setting off from The Esplanade at around 11am will be gold jersey holder Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish, who sprinted to victory in the fourth stage of the race on Wednesday.

Several thousand people are expected to turn out and flock to Sidmouth for the spectacular – and residents have been urged to be wary of related road closures.

Cyclists will leave The Esplanade, opposite Dukes, head up Fore Street, High Street, Vicarage Road, Temple Street, Sidford Road and continue along the A375 through Sidbury to Honiton.

Sidmouth Cricket Club will be providing parking on its field from £3 and has space for more than 400 cars.

Road closures will be in place from 5am to 1pm in Peak Hill Road, The Esplanade, Station Road, Prospect Place, Dove Lane, Fore Street and Ham Lane. Access will be permitted to the Bedford Lawn car park.

Fore Street and High Street, to All Saints Road, will be closed to vehicles from 8.30am to 12.30pm.

The A375, from All Saints Road towards Sidbury, will be the subject of a rolling closure - which means stretches will only be shut to vehicles for the period it takes for the race to pass through.

On-street parking will be suspended from 5am to 1pm on The Esplanade and in Glen Road, Station Road, High Street, Fore Street, Old Fore Street, New Street, and Vicarage Road.

The town has marked the arrival of the tour with a series of special events this week including a fun day and procession on Sunday (see pages 34 and 35) and a Sid Valley Cycling Club criterium race last night (Thursday). See next week’s Herald for full coverage.