How to get wristband to watch test race from Box Hill

[Marcus]

Got to the Mall around 0830 this morning, watched the teams being introduced prior to the rolling start at 0900.

Then hung around for 3 hours which went remarkably quick considering there was no big screen and only sporadic at times incorrect commentary.

Standing at approximately 120 metres from the finish with an hour to go the crowds began to swell.

Then the moment everyone was waiting for flashed past at the blink of an eye. Cav was out of the saddle and sprinting by the time he passed with the bunch. His gap didn't open much more to the finish but I don't think he even broke a sweat.

Stayed and watched until the broom wagon came in and the presentations before leaving.

The organisers will need to do much much much more for the spectators in the start/finish area for the real thing.

Can't upload photos

[Amy]

I watched it from the comfort of my parents' at Thames Ditton. I can safely say that the Hampton Court Way must have been lined the entire way along and I could nip indoors and use the loo in comfort and grab a cup of tea or something to eat no problem while waiting

[Chris L]

Thought I would give Box Hill a go despite no wrist band. Cycled up and got to the Box Hill Road and Headley Common Road junction at about 8.45 only to be told it was now closed and we couldnt get through to either road. While I was debating whether to wait here to watch or go to the bottom of box via Walton an elderly Dutch (judging by the accent and cycle top logos) couple turned up on touring bikes and tried to get through. Not being English and unaware of the Box Hill situation they couldn’t see (for some strange reason) why they couldn’t come through 90 mins before the race was due. This inspired a few more of us and to avoid a storming of the barricades (especially with recent events in mind) they let us through with a “only if you walk mind you” which we did until we went round the next corner.
The bike park was good with a secure wrist band issued free but was even half full even at the end. After scouting out the restricted area I thought I would sneak through the woods to the upper part of the zig-zag road. I wasn’t the only one with that idea and a few of us found a road side spot only to be moved on. So we sneaked into the woods sat it out then went back, only to be moved on again so back into the woods. They were wise to us by now and a later group of marshals came into the woods to clear us out. I thought I am too old for this (all of us were middle aged and were hiding in the woods !) so I went to the top were I found a reasonably good vantage point along from the café. Reports say it was pretty crowded along the route but the top of box hill was empty really with loads more room, all in all a good scouting expedition for the olympics. Lesson learnt - next time I am going to wear camouflage and not a yellow Addiscombe top.
Chris

[Dombo]

From where I was standing in the wrist-band enclosure, the hill opposite looked to have a better view. I think it is accessible by the chalky mountain bike trail just to the right of Zig Zag as you come up from the bottom. There was a fence and some marshalls and a couple of people watching.