The final countdown to the Commonwealth Games in Dudley is ticking as the borough prepares to welcome the cycling time trials on Thursday.

Road cycling superstars from around the Commonwealth will be speeding down the streets of Dudley, Sedgley and Gornal on Thursday 4 August in the exhilarating men’s and women’s time trial events.

No tickets are required for the Dudley leg of the race and spectators are invited to line the route. There will also be viewing sites at Vicar Street Gardens in Sedgley and Coronation Gardens and Stone Street Square in Dudley.

The time trial is part of a fantastic week of live events in Dudley borough to coincide with the biggest international sporting event ever to be held in the region.

The council's Commonwealth Games festival week will visit Halesowen, Coseley, Stourbridge, Dudley, Sedgley, Brierley Hill, Quarry Bank and Himley. The festival sites will feature free sporting activities for all the family to enjoy, plus a big screen with live BBC coverage of the Games. Councillor Simon Phipps, cabinet member for regeneration and enterprise, said:

"The Commonwealth Games cycling time trials will be the biggest sporting event ever to be held in Dudley and we’re immensely proud to welcome some of the world’s best road cyclists to our borough.

"This event is a fantastic opportunity to put Dudley in front of a massive global audience and we encourage residents to embrace the arrival of the Games, line the route and give the athletes their support."

Disruption to travel in the borough is expected during the time trials. Road closures, changed traffic conditions and parking restrictions will be in place to ensure the safety of spectators and the competing athletes. Himley Hall and Park will also be closed to vehicles during the event.

There will be no parking on the time trial route from 6pm on Wednesday 3 August until 6pm on Thursday 4 August. Residents who regularly park on these roads will need to find alternative parking within these times. Any vehicles that remain on the route will be towed and moved elsewhere.

Crossing points for vehicles will be available between 5am and 9.15am and after 3.30pm on key roads in the borough. Pedestrians will be able to cross the course during the time trials in marshalled areas.

Many bus services covering Dudley borough will be running shorter routes than normal on the day of the time trials. Full details of changes to bus routes are available on the Transport for West Midlands website.

For more information on the Commonwealth Games events taking place in Dudley borough this summer, including road closures and festival sites, visit the Commonwealth Games hub.