Tough Tour of Britain Route Announced

Facebooktwitterredditpinterestlinkedinmail

Posted Thursday 21st March 2013 –

The Tour of Britain will celebrate its tenth anniversary in style, with the hardest ever route including the first ever summit finish for a stage and the race’s longest ever individual time trial. The race will get underway from the Peebles in the Scottish Borders on Sunday 15th September and visit the Lake District and Snowdonia for the first time, before ending in the heart of London on Sunday 22nd September with a ten lap circuit race finishing on Whitehall.

2012 IG Gold Jersey Jonathan Tiernan Locke
2012 IG Gold Jersey Jonathan Tiernan Locke

Headlining the features will be the finish at Haytor on Dartmoor on Stage Six, which will bring the drama of a summit finish to Britain’s biggest professional cycle race for the first time ever, as well as a 10-mile individual time trial based around Knowsley Safari Park on Merseyside on day three.

Challenges for the world’s top riders will be present throughout, with Stage Two seeing The Tour’s longest ever leg, at 225-kilometres through the heart of Cumbria and the Lake District, with a tricky uphill finish in Kendal, whilst Stage Five through Wales includes two ascents of Caerphilly Mountain towards the end of a gruelling route.

The Tour will also visit Dumfries & Galloway, Stoke-on-Trent and Surrey during the eight stage event.

“This year’s Tour will be an exciting and dynamic route, building on the success of last year’s race and celebrating what has been an incredible ten years of growth for The Tour of Britain and cycling in the UK,” said Hugh Roberts, Chief Executive of SweetSpot Group, the organisers and promoters of The Tour of Britain.

“I would also like to welcome the return of IG Group as Partners of the Race. I am sure in 2013 whoever wears the race leader’s IG Gold Jersey will definitely have earned the honour.”

The Tour of Britain was revived by SweetSpot Group in 2004, with Jonathan Tiernan Locke becoming the first British winner in the modern race’s history last year.

“This will definitely be the most challenging Tour of Britain yet,” said Race Director Mick Bennett.

“We have several unique features and are very excited about the inclusion of our first ever summit finish. Our longest ever time trial balances the course and will ensure that for spectators at the roadside and at home on television The Tour of Britain is a thrilling battle throughout.”

The route of the 2013 Tour of Britain is as follows:

Stage One – Sunday 15th September, Peebles to Drumlanrig Castle, 201km

Stage Two – Monday 16th September, Cumbria, The Lake District Stage, Carlisle to Kendal, 225km

Stage Three – Tuesday 17th September, Knowsley Individual Time Trial,16km

Stage Four – Wednesday 18th September, Stoke-on-Trent to Llanberis, 190.9km

Stage Five – Thursday 19th September Machynlleth to Caerphilly 177.1km

Stage Six – Friday 20th September, Sidmouth to Haytor, Dartmoor, 137km

Stage Seven – Saturday 21st September, Epsom to Guildford, 150.4km

Stage Eight – Sunday 22nd September, The London Stage, presented by TfL,88km