The 2026 edition of the Tour de Manc cycling event takes place on Sunday 3rd May with 4 routes criss-crossing the region starting from & finishing at Bowlee Community Park in Middleton. The toughest challenge in the Tour de Manc programme is the Mad Manc which includes a climb up Cowlishaw Road, a feed station on Werneth Low Road at the Hare & Hounds and descent of Joel Lane as part of the 201km route. As a result there will be temporary road closures for these 3 roads affecting access to the club.

The following information has been provided by the Tour de Manc organizers.

Cowlishaw Road - The Temporary Traffic Order will be in force from 08:30hrs to 12:00hrs on 3rd May 2026, when a Closed Road (two-way restriction) will be in force. During the aforementioned hours, Cowlishaw Road will NOT be accessible between Compstall Road (B6104) and Werneth Low Road.

Premises on Cowlishaw Road will only be accessible for Emergency purposes throughout the period of the Order. In the event of an Emergency vehicle needing access, travel is only permitted in a northerly direction travelling uphill towards Werneth Low Road from Compstall Road.

If you need to arrange emergency access, please call Ride Control on 0161 818 4686.

There will be a signed diversion in place for vehicles approaching Cowlishaw Road from both Werneth Low and Compstall Road ends.

Joel Lane & Werneth Low Road - The Temporary Traffic Order will be in force from 08:30 hrs to 12:00hrs on 3rd May 2026, when a signed One-way restriction will be in force.

During the aforementioned hours, Werneth Low Road will ONLY be accessible from the Triangle at the top of Cowlishaw Road, Past the Hare and Hounds Inn towards Mount Road and Joel Lane. Joel Lane will ONLY be accessible in the direction of Gee Cross from Werneth Low Road / Higham Lane ie downhill to the A560 Stockport Road. Traffic is legally prohibited from joining Joel Lane at the Stockport Road junction.

All premises on Werneth Low Road and on Joel Lane will remain accessible throughout the period of the Order, however it is a legal requirement that ALL vehicles MUST travel in the signed direction only. As an example, vehicles leaving Arnold Lane must only turn right on to Joel Lane.

There will be a signed diversion in place for vehicles approaching Joel Lane from the Werneth Low, Higham Road and Mount Road junction. Similarly, there will be a signed diversion for the one-way no-entry into Werneth Low Road from the direction of Joel Lane.

These temporary traffic orders have been mandated for safety reasons as the annual Tour de Manc charity bicycle ride will be taking place and over a thousand cyclists, will be cycling up Cowlishaw Road & travelling down Joel Lane. Tour de Manc Marshals will be stationed at the main entry roads to Cowlishaw Road & Joel Lane to provide advice to the public regarding these restrictions.

For more information about the race please go to the official Tour de Manc website.