UK's leading cycling race is in Hungerford today

Rolling road closures will be in place in Hungerford and the town’s primary school children have been told they can take packed lunches to eat.
The Tour of Britain features the country’s top cyclists Mark Cavendish and Sir Bradley Wiggins and organisers expect the race to enter the district near Boxford at around 12.20pm.
A West Berkshire Council cycling co-ordinator will also be taking pupils from Welford and Wickham School on a cycle ride to watch the race at Boxford.
The riders, accompanied by lead cars, will then arrive in Hungerford via Salisbury Road then head down High Street and Charnham Street before heading off for Halfway along the A4, passing through Hoe Benham and Boxford as they leave the area.
West Berkshire’s Executive Member for Highways and Transport, Pamela Bale (Con, Pangbourne), said: “This is a fantastic opportunity for West Berkshire, and for Hungerford in particular. As a high profile sporting event, it is anticipated that the race will attract local people onto the streets and visitors from outside the area too.
“This will provide great entertainment and could well boost the local economy of the areas that it passes through.”
However some High Street traders said they felt more could have been done to warn them of road closures.
Martin Bakker of Martin and the Magpie florists said: “A bit more notice would have been nice. We only just noriced some small signs on the road. I fear a lot of people won’t be able to get into the town on what is normally a busy day for us.”
Tom Keeble of T Keeble jewellers said he had been unaware of the race and proposed road closures. Catering manager at the Tutti Pole, Stephen Hobson, said on Monday: “We only found out about it today from a customer. But the (Devizes to Westminster) canoe race brought some extra customers in, so who knows? Perhaps this will, too.”
Town mayor Dennis Benneyworth said: “There will be rolling road closures in effect and some traders have expressed some concerns, but it wasn’t a problem with the Tour de France. It has a positive effect on the local economy, it is very well organised and the organisers will keep disruption to a minimum.”
He said the town council had sent letters to residents about the road closures and that the town’s Chamber of Commerce had also been told in advance.
He added: We’re putting some flags out, and staff at the council will be outside the Town Hall cheering on the riders.”
West Berkshire Council spokeswoman Peta Stoddart-Crompton said: “It is a rolling road closure, not a full closure, as the race will take around 20 minutes to pass through the locations.
“Notfications were sent in July to relevant parish councils and the usual road closure notice was sent to all consultees. There may be some local delays following the 20 minute rolling closure.”
Today sees the race entering into the sixth stage of the 120-mile, eight-day competition.
The entire race, which started in Liverpool on Sunday, September 7, ends in London on Sunday, September 14.
The event will feature in more than three hours of live coverage on ITV4 each day plus an hour’s highlights each evening.