Pull on your lycra shorts, grab that luminous yellow cycling helmet and drag out the bike from the back of the shed - it’s the perfect time for cycling.

Medway is undergoing a cycling boom and the council wants you to be involved, whether you are watching cycling or getting out there and taking part.

The Tour de France came to Medway on Sunday, 8 July 2007, with Stage 1 passing through Strood, Gillingham, Chatham and Rochester en route from London to Canterbury, bringing with it world-class cyclists and all the glitz and glamour of professional cycling. There was a carnival atmosphere in Medway on the day and thousands of people lined the route, especially in Strood, Gillingham,and Rochester where big screens were provided to watch the race.

For one and half hours before the race, the caravan of sponsors cars, floats and vehicles passed with colour and noise, along with TV, press and French and English police motorcycles. Just before noon, television helicopters hovered overhead as the cyclists closed in on Medway. Britain's David Millar led the race going in to Medway and at one stage was five minutes ahead of the peleton. Millar won the sprint competition through Gillingham, earning bonus points towards the green jersey.

At New Road, Chatham, Millar was caught by four other cyclists in a following group of breakaway cyclists before heading out to Borstal and Maidstone. The peleton followed, with vast crowds by Rochester Castle watching the spectacle. By 12.30pm the cyclists and the tour had been and gone but the memories they will leave will last for a long time.

Stage 1 was won by Australia's Robbie McEwen who, having crashed earlier in the stage, fought his way back through the field and won a storming sprint finish on the line in Canterbury. Millar also picked up the polka-dot king of the mountains jersey on this stage.

Medway Council has a detailed cycle map available free of charge. The detailed coloured map shows all the on and off-road cycle routes in the urban areas of Medway, so you have no excuse for not knowing where to go. The map also has a report and images from the historic day when the Tour de France came to Medway.

As well as routes, the map contains information on cycle shops in Medway, places to visit and cycling tips. It also gives information on The Heron Trail, a cycle route on the Hoo peninsula.

Left: David Millar and team car on the A289 at Frindsbury (photo courtesy Integrated transport team)

You can pick up a copy of the cycle map from all libraries, contact points and receptions, Riverside, and Capstone Farm Country Parks, the Visitor Information Centre and Medway's cycle shops.

Copies are also available from Medway Council's Integrated Transport team by email from the address below or by calling Customer First on the number below.

Right: The peleton passing through Gillingham Gate. (photo courtesy Stuart Thomas photography)

You can download the routes right now:

• Cycle routes in Medway (west) (pdf 456KB)
• Cycle routes in Medway (east) (pdf 504KB)
• a smaller version of the cycle routes (pdf 143KB).

To use these files, you will need Adobe Acrobat Reader. If you do not have this on your computer, please use our advice page.


Left: One of the many sponsors' vehicles passing through as part of the caravan at Rochester Castle. (photo courtesy Enrico Seccatore)