tour of britain cycle race route

Tour of Britain 2022 route

The 18th edition of the modern Tour of Britain set to take place between September 4 - 11

Tour of Britain 2022 Route

The Tour of Britain returns September 4, after a one-year hiatus due to COVID-19, for eight days of racing as a UCI ProSeries event, making it one of the most prestigious sporting events of Great Britain.

Now in its 18th edition, 18 teams, five of them WorldTour level, will begin on the first Sunday of September in the city centre of Aberdeen and travel southward to the finale on September 11 in the historic Needles on the Isle of Wight.

First four days

Stage 1 opens in Scotland for 181.3 kilometres from Aberdeen, which is the most northerly overall start for the Tour of Britain. Last year Aberdeen hosted the race finale. It becomes the third Scottish city to host the start of the race, while Glenshee Ski Centre becomes the first-ever opening day summit finish. A trio of intermediate sprints and KOM climbs sprinkle the route to reach the approach to the final climb, which is uncategorised. To reach the finish line, the route will follow the 9.1km Old Military Road from Auchallater, facing an average gradient of 4.8% on the final five kilometres.

The second day of racing rolls south of Edinburgh across the rolling hills and rural areas of Scottish Borders, which hosts a full stage for the second time in three editions. From Hawick, the route will cover 175.2km to a first-time finish in Duns. The middle section of the route offers two intermediate sprints - Morebattle and Coldstream - as the roads skirt the North Sea at Eyemouth. Then the final intermediate sprint at Reston leads to a succession of three categorised climbs in the final 30 kilometres - Wanside Rigg (2.1km at 5.7%), Mainslaughter Law (1.7km at 5.9%) and Hardens Hill (1.9km at 4.7%). From the summit of Hardens Hill, the route descends 5.5km to the finish in Duns. 

Stage 3 takes on 163.6km on English soil with a first-time start in Durham and winding in a counter-clockwise direction to Sunderland. The route heads west through the North Pennines AONB, with two categorised climbs in the area - first-category Chapel Fell (4.1km at 7.8%) followed by second-category Billy Lane (1.8km at 7.1%). There is one intermediate sprint in the opening 29km, at Stanhope, and then a pair on the road back toward Sunderland, Bishop Auckland and Ferryhill, only 9.5km between the two sprint points. A small category 3 climb at High Moorsley (1.2km at 5.3%) stands in the way to the fast finish outside Sunderland’s new City Hall.

Just a short distance south on the coast will be the start for stage 4 at Redcar, an inaugural host borough. The149.5km route goes through the popular sea-side town of Whitby, which will stage the first intermediate sprint of the day. Following are two short classified climbs at Robin Hood’s Bay and Egton Bank. Once through the next sprint line at Stokesley, with 33km to go, the route heads into the North York Moors National Park with two climbs, opening with the cat 1 Carlton Bank (1.9km at 10.2%). There next climb offers intermediate sprint points at the top, not KOM points, at Newgate Bank (1.3km at 7.3%). The final 85.km descent into Duncombe Park in Helmsley, one of Yorkshire’s finest estates.

Second four days

The longest day of the Tour of Britain is Thursday, September 8 on stage 5 with 186.8km in Nottinghamshire. Like the race did four years ago, the start will be in West Bridgford and the finish is set for the Civic Centre in Mansfield, but the route has changed. From West Bridgford, this year’s route takes in Cotgrave, Gedling, Southwell, Retford and Worksop before heading into Mansfield via Clumber Park and Sherwood Forest. It is a flat day with a trio of intermediate sprints - Edingley, Retford and Clumber Park - and two small classified climbs - at Keyworth (1km at 3.4%) and Sparken Hill (.4km at 8.5%). 

All 170.9km on stage 6 roll through Gloucestershire, beginning in the mediaeval market town of Tewkesbury. Only 10km separate this town from the cathedral city of Gloucester, but the route takes the peloton in a clockwise direction into the Cotswolds. In the first 45km there are KOM points at round Hill (1.8km at 9.4%) and Withington Hill (1.5km at 6.9%). A trio of intermediate sprints unfold at Cirencester, Rangeworhty and Dursley before the final categorised climb at Crawley Hill (1.7km at 8.1%). The peloton will then have 25km to go and approach the finish by the historic Gloucester Docks, the country’s most inland port, from South Gloucestershire.

The race reaches the English Channel for stage 7, with a start in West Bay. The route run parallel with the West Dorset Heritage coast as it winds 175.9km on mainly inland roads towards Dorchester, Wareham and Knowlton, all with intermediate sprints. The classified climbs at Daggers Gate (1km at 3.1%) and Whiteways HIll (1.5km at 7.1%) strike as a tandem after the first 55km, the two separated by 8.5km. The final stiff climb comes with 46km to go at Okeford Hill (1.7km at 7.1%). The stage concludes with finishing circuits in Ferndown.

The Isle of Wight hosts the final day of racing, 148.9km from Ryde to The Needles. In between are a sequence of tourist towns - Sandown, Yarmouth and Cowes with intermediate sprints. Scattered among those are three classified climbs - Brading Down (1.9km at 5.8%), Cowleaze Hill (1.7km at 6.1%) and Zig Zag Road (1.4km at 6.3%). 

The final 20 kilometres will take the peloton along Military Road, which offers stunning panoramic views out across the English Channel, towards The Needles Landmark Attraction. This year’s race culminates with a two-kilometre climb up to Tennyson Down, the final 400 metres averaging 9.6%, making it the toughest ending to any Tour of Britain in modern history.

• Stage 1 - Aberdeen to Glenshee Ski Centre, 181.3km
• Stage 2 - Hawick to Duns, 175.2km
• Stage 3 - Durham to Sunderland, 163.6km
• Stage 4 - Redcar to Duncombe Park, Helmsley, 149.5km
• Stage 5 - West Bridgford to Mansfield, 186.8km
• Stage 6 - Tewkesbury to Gloucester, 170.9km
• Stage 7 - West Bay to Ferndown, 175.9km
• Stage 8 - Ryde to The Needles, 148.9km

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2022 Tour of Britain route: full details and analysis

A stage-by-stage breakdown with insight from route director Andy Hawes

Alex Livesey/Getty Images

John Whitney

The bookends of the 2022 Tour of Britain are almost a reversal of last year, with a start in Aberdeen and a finish in southern England, this time via a first visit to the Isle of Wight.

It’s an unpredictable route, with few stages you could guarantee will be won by any one type of rider.

Route director Andy Hawes says the 2022 Tour of Britain teams will have to keep a close eye on the road book and use all the tools at their disposal to solve the questions each stage will pose.

Highlights include an opening-stage summit finish at the Glenshee Ski Centre, deep in the wonderful Cairngorms, and a roving route around the Isle of Wight that covers every corner of the island.

Tour of Britain – stage guide

• Stage 1: Aberdeen – Glenshee Ski Centre
• Stage 2: Hawick – Duns
• Stage 3: Durham – Sunderland
• Stage 4: Redcar – Helmsley
• Stage 5: West Bridgford – Mansfield
• Stage 6: Tewkesbury – Gloucester
• Stage 7: West Bay – Ferndown
• Stage 8: Ryde – The Needles

Aberdeen – Glenshee Ski Centre

• When: Sunday 4 September
• Distance: 180.8km
• Total elevation: 2,512m
• Skoda KOMs: Bennachie Forest (Cat 3); My Lord’s Throat (Cat 3); Suie Road (Cat 2); Glenshee Ski Centre (Cat 1)
• Eisberg Sprints: Inverurie; Alford; Ballater

The 2022 Tour of Britain opens in Aberdeen, in exactly the same spot as Wout van Aert clinched last year’s victory in a gripping finale with home favourite Ethan Hayter.

The riders will start in Union Street, though racing will be neutralised until they cross last year’s finish line.

It’s the modern Tour of Britain’s second visit to Aberdeenshire and, after the start, the roads will be different from last year. “It’s always nice to not tread the same path,” says route director Andy Hawes.

The route heads west, towards the Cairngorms National Park, via popular local climbs My Lord’s Throat and Suie Road. It’s up and down all day, but trending up as the peloton makes its way into the Cairngorms.

The stage finishes at the Glenshee ski station at 650m, a rare summit finish on the first day of a week-long stage race. It’s only the final 3km where it begins to bite and Hawes reckons it’s a “big ring climb”.

“In the past I’d have been worried that a summit finish on stage 1 would have a detrimental effect on the rest of the race, and the last thing we want is someone gaining four minutes and the GC be done.”

He can’t see it playing out like that, and even if there was a big gap on the line, there are many obstacles for the leader to jump before the Isle of Wight finish. “It’s a gorgeous climb,” adds Hawes.

“I’m in two minds about what I want the weather to be. I’ve seen it in glorious sunshine, and on darker days like you would expect, and they’re both amazing. It’s so atmospheric, whatever the weather.”

Hawick – Duns

• When: Monday 5 September
• Distance: 174.8km
• Total elevation: 2,547m
• Skoda KOMs: Wanside Rig (Cat 3); Mainslaughter Law (Cat 3); Hardens Hill (Cat 3)
• Eisberg Sprints: Morebattle; Coldstream; Reston

As with last year’s race, this is another hilly week, packed to the gills with climbing.

The previous day’s 2,500 metres of elevation are followed by the same again today and only stage five drops under 2,000m.

We’re again in Scottish Borders territory, but despite the frequency of visits here, Hawes says they’ve found roads, towns and villages they’ve not been to before.

Hawick also hosted the start of stage 7 in 2021, a lumpy stage to Edinburgh won by Yves Lampaert.

The race doesn’t get as far north on this stage, heading out to the east coast town of Eyemouth, before turning around for the Lammermuir Hills, a natural separation between the Borders and East Lothian.

While it will have been hilly up to this point, all three of this day's King of the Mountains sections fall within the final 20km, three 3rd category climbs – Wanside Rig, Mainslaughter Law and Hardens Hill – and taking the peloton close to 450m elevation.

Rather than another summit finish, the peloton must negotiate a fast and open descent, one that, for the best descenders, will tempt them into stern attacks as they head towards the final summit.

“The last 5km is off the side of a mountain down into the finish in Duns,” says Hawes.

“Anybody who gets away on that final KOM could easily come across the line on their own. I can’t see it finishing in a bunch sprint.”

Durham – Sunderland

• When: Tuesday 6 September
• Distance: 163.3km
• Total elevation: 2,518m
• Skoda KOMs: Chapel Fell (Cat 1); Billy Lane (Cat 2); High Moorsley (Cat 3)
• Eisberg Sprints: Stanhope; Bishop Auckland; Ferryhill

County Durham’s Chapel Fell makes an appearance on day three.

At 627m high, it would be the ceiling of many Tours of Britain, but for the earlier visit to the Cairngorms.

The climb begins in the village of St John’s Chapel, averaging 8.3 per cent over almost 4km.

“The riders who are hanging on in there are going to hate it, as you can see the top from a long way off, it’s very open,” says Hawes.

From there, the stage is up and down, with two more KOMs at 98 and 148km, though nothing on the scale of Chapel Fell.

Around the mid-point, the race speeds through Barnard Castle, which will serve as a step in restoring its image as a County Durham market town, rather than the scene for the scandal involving Dominic Cummings, the former advisor of the soon-to-be-former PM.

The day ends in Sunderland, hosting the race for the first time, with a finish in Keel Square. “The city has been very supportive,” says Hawes.

“They’ve hosted a couple of rounds of the Tour Series. Once places host that, everyone gets excited and wonders what comes next. Often, that’s the Tour of Britain, or the Women’s Tour, which they’re in negotiations to host.

Here, we have an opportunity for a bunch sprint, with the hard part earlier in the stage. The break could go and hoover up a lot of the points in the KOM and sprint competitions.”

Redcar – Duncombe Park, Helmsley

• When: Wednesday 7 September
• Distance: 149.5km
• Total elevation: 2,669m
• Skoda KOMs: Robin Hood’s Bay (Cat 1); Egton Bank (Cat 2); Carlton Bank (Cat 1)
• Eisberg Sprints: Whitby; Stokesley; Newgate Bank

Just 40 miles separate the previous night’s finish and the start in Redcar, for what is the toughest stage on paper – the shortest, but with the most climbing (2,669m).

The route heads south down the coast to Whitby, before turning inland to traverse the North York Moors National Park. It’s set to be a great-looking stage, too.

“I’ve driven the length and breadth of this country in this job over the years,” Hawes says, “and I don’t get too many ‘wow’ moments anymore, where you drive round a corner and the view opens up in a grand way. This year, I had it a couple of times on stage four. It’s stunning. If they’re not going up, they’re going down, the only flat part is the neutralised section.”

The toughest climb, says Hawes, is the final KOM, the Category 1 Carlton Bank, around 26km from the finish. The Newgate Bank climb gets a sprint classification, with another downhill finish into Helmsley, similar to the one into Duns on stage two.

Day four marks the long-awaited return to Yorkshire. Since the ASO-backed Tour de Yorkshire launched in 2015, the Tour of Britain has been locked out of the county, but when the race folded, its doors opened once more.

“Redcar was due to be a finish in the 2020 Tour de Yorkshire and they were gutted when it didn’t happen,” says Hawes.

“Then there was the race’s sad demise after that, and we approached them to see if they wanted to host a start and they said absolutely.”

West Bridgford – Mansfield

• When: Thursday 8 September
• Distance: 187km
• Total elevation: 1,691m
• Skoda KOMs: Keyworth (Cat 3); Sparken Hill (Cat 3)
• Eisberg Sprints: Edingley; Retford; Clumber Park

With four chunky stages through mountain ranges of northern Scotland and England, it seems fair to the riders that they get a stage offering something close to a respite.

It’s hardly flat, though – it almost never is in the Tour of Britain – but with 1,691 metres elevation over the longest stage, the peloton can take stock at the start of the second half of the race and plot to make their move – or stay one step ahead.

There was a stage between these two towns in the 2018 race, won in swaggering fashion by Team Sky’s Brit Ian Stannard, a moment of glory at the back end of a career largely in service of others.

The Essex rider retired in 2020, but will be back at the race as a directeur sportif with British development outfit Trinity Racing.

This time, as is his wont, Hawes has plotted an entirely new route. “It’s one of the easier stages, and they’re needed between the harder days.

"We go through village after village, and towns like Retford and Worksop later in the stage, before the super-fast finish in Mansfield.

“This one on paper has bunch sprint written all over it. Every time we come to Nottinghamshire, it’s tough to find genuine KOMs. We’ve got two, rather than three. One early on and one later.

“It’s a typical Nottinghamshire stage. Towns, villages, forests, open country. It’s good, it gives the peloton a chance to decompress a little after four really tough stages. Usually, I would normally like three hard stages then an easier one, but it’s a day later because of the way we’ve moved down the country. The finish is super-wide, if slightly uphill.”

Tewkesbury – Gloucester

• When: Friday 9 September
• Distance: 165.1km
• Total elevation: 2,158m
• Skoda KOMs: Round Hill (Cat 2); Withington Hill (Cat 3); Crowley Hill (Cat 2)
• Eisberg Sprints: Cirencester; Rangeworthy; Dursley

Gloucestershire is a frequent host of the Tour of Britain, but stage 6 marks the first time it has hosted a full stage entirely within its borders.

The start and finish are separated by a little over 10 miles, so fans can easily visit both should they want to.

There are KOM points up for grabs early in the stage, with Round Hill and Withington Hill falling within the first 50 kilometres.

“Depending on the battle for the KOM jersey, I don’t think the peloton will want a break going too early on in this one,” says Hawes.

The race heads south through the Cotswolds, skirting round Cheltenham clockwise, heading through Cirencester, Tetbury and getting as far south as Chipping Sodbury and Yate, just north of Bristol.

They then turn the ship around and head north towards Gloucester. There are climbs throughout this stage, but given we’re spending so much time in the Cotswolds on day six, the peloton gets a lucky break because it could be far hillier. Two sprints fall within the final 50km.

There remains a sting in the tail, though, with an uncategorised climb just 10km from the finish.

“This year more than any it’s important for teams to study the road book and Veloviewer [road mapping software that many teams use before and during stages in their team cars] and plan what they’re going to do,” says Hawes.

“I think that every stage has something in the dying kilometres that, if they’re not paying close attention, then it could catch them out. I don’t think any one stage this week is going to be written down as being for one type of stage or another, or for one type of rider or another.”

West Bay – Ferndown

• When: Saturday 10 September
• Distance: 175.9km
• Total elevation: 2,377m
• Skoda KOMs: Daggers Gate (Cat 3); Whiteways Hill (Cat 2); Okeford Hill (Cat 2)
• Eisberg Sprints: Dorchester; Wareham; Knowlton

Stage 7 should prove a treat for riders and spectators alike. Remarkably, it’s the first time that the modern Tour of Britain (since 2004) has visited Dorset, and Hawes has served up a barnstormer of a route that showcases the county’s wonderful scenery and stiff climbs.

From West Bay, known for its striking golden cliffs, the route runs parallel to the coast down to Weymouth, turning inland through Dorchester and to Hawes’ favourite part of the stage into West Lulworth, close to Lulworth Cove and Durdle Door, and into the Isle of Purbeck peninsula and the majestic Corfe Castle.

It’s a tour of some of the coast’s highlights as much as it is a bike race and it’ll be worth tuning in for the helicopter shots of the scenery, as well as the racing.

The route heads inland towards Wareham, Milton Abbas and Wimborne Minster before looping round Ferndown’s town centre for the finish.

“If I was a betting man I’d predict a bunch sprint, the road lends itself to it,” says Hawes. Whatever happens on the road, this is Dorset at its most iconic.

Ryde – The Needles

• When: Sunday 11 September
• Distance: 148.7km
• Total elevation: 2,131m
• Skoda KOMs: Brading Down (Cat 1); Cowleaze Hill (Cat 2); Zig Zag Road/Ventnor (Cat 1); Tennyson Down (Cat 2)
• Eisberg Sprints: Sandown; Yarmouth; Cowes

For the first time, the Tour of Britain arrives on the Isle of Wight . Such are the logistics of getting to the island that the race could only ever start or finish there and, with sporting terrain and wonderful scenery, it’ll be a fitting finale for any bike race.

The island’s size necessitates a route that seems to cover just about every strip of tarmac on the island.

“Yes, we’re pretty much covering the Isle of Wight, that’s definitely ticked off,” says Hawes.

“It’s going to give riders and fans a full flavour of what the island is about.”

Because of how the route traverses the island, fans will be able to catch the race in multiple locations across the day.

“The route crosses over itself but you never get the feeling that you’re close to where you’ve been before. It’s different around every corner," adds Hawes.

“It’s up and down all day. The helicopter camera is going to be busy, there’ll be some classic shots to be had. It’s a fitting final stage. The military road [which runs down the island’s south west] is four metres from the edge of the cliff in places, and it might not be there for much longer with all the erosion.”

The race ends with a 2km climb up to Tennyson Down, the final 400m averaging 9.6 per cent – the toughest finish to a Tour of Britain, organisers reckon.

“I said before last year’s race, don’t be surprised if the jersey changes hands on the final stage, and there it was, with Ethan Hayter losing it on the line to Wout van Aert. Am I going to be as bold this year?

"I don’t know, but I think there will be many wearers of the jersey. Positioning on this final climb will be key if there’s all to play for.”

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Tour of Britain 2022 route map: Stages list, full schedule, TV coverage and where to watch the race live

Tom pidcock, who won olympic gold for great britain in the cross-country mountain biking in 2020, is among the hopefuls.

The 2022 Tour of Britain kicks off on Sunday, with riders racing from Aberdeen to the Isle of Wight over eight gruelling days.

Tom Pidcock, who won Olympic gold for Great Britain in the cross-country mountain biking in 2020, is among the hopefuls. He will be riding for Ineos Grenadiers.

Among those challenging him are Israel-Premier Tech’s Dylan Teuns, a fierce Belgian rider making his debut for his new team, and Austrian national champion Felix Großschartner, representing Bora–Hansgrohe.

Here is the full route and schedule for the race.

When is the 2022 Tour of Britain?

The Tour of Britain takes place over eight days, with one stage per day.

The first stage starts from Aberdeen on Sunday 4 September . The final stage will be on the Isle of Wight – a Tour of Britain first – on Sunday 11 September .

The tour will be televised live in full on ITV4. Here are the timings you need:

• Stage one, Sunday 4th September – 10.45am to 4pm, highlights at 8pm
• Stage two, Monday 5th September – 10.45am to 3.45pm, highlights at 10pm
• Stage three, Tuesday 6th September – 11am to 3.45pm, highlights at 10pm
• Stage four, Wednesday 7th September – 11.15am to 3.45pm, highlights at 8pm
• Stage five, Thursday 8th September – 10.30am to 3.45pm, highlights at 9pm
• Stage six, Friday 9th September – 10.45am to 3.45pm, highlights at 8pm
• Stage seven, Saturday 10th September – 10.45am to 3.45pm, highlights at 8pm
• Stage eight, Sunday 11th September – 10.45am to 3.45pm, highlights at 8pm

What is the full route?

Stage one – Aberdeen to Glenshee Ski Centre (181.3km)

Route description: Not only will this stage feature an entirely new route compared to last year’s finale in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, it will also include the first ever opening day summit finish in modern race history. The Old Military Road climb from Auchallater to Glenshee Ski Centre measures 9.1km long, with the final five kilometres averaging a gradient of 4.8 per cent.

Stage two – Hawick to Duns (175.2km)

Route description: Hawick, famous for its knitwear and the first whisky distillery to open in the region since 1837, will be the starting point of stage two. The race’s ninth visit to the Borders will feature a mix of roads old and new to the event, before a first-ever finish in Duns. The stage winner will be crowned in the shadow of the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum, which celebrates the two-time Formula 1 world champion who lived nearby.

Stage three – Durham to Sunderland (163.6km)

Route description: History will be made when riders roll out in the shadow of the city’s famous cathedral: Durham has never previously hosted a stage start or finish in a professional edition of the Tour of Britain. Stage three’s route will initially head west, taking the peloton through the North Pennines AONB, before heading back through County Durham and into Sunderland. The route will weave past some of the city’s beautiful green spaces and through communities on its approach to the finish line outside of Sunderland’s new City Hall, which forms part of a £500m development in the city.

Stage four – Redcar to Duncombe Park, Helmsley (149.5km)

Route description: The start will be the first time the borough of Redcar and Cleveland has hosted the Tour of Britain, while the finish marks the race’s return to North Yorkshire in 13 years. Popular seaside towns such as Saltburn-by-the-Sea and Whitby will be raced through before the route heads into the North York Moors National Park. The unforgiving final 30km of this 149.5km stage feature the climbs of Carlton Bank (2km long, 9.8 per cent average gradient) and Newgate Bank (2km long, 6 per cent average gradient) before descending into the finish at Duncombe Park, one of Yorkshire’s finest historic houses and estates.

Teams taking part Bardiani CSF Faizanè Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB BORA-Hansgrohe  Cara Rural – Seguros RGA Global 6 Cycling  Great Britain Cycling Team  Human Powered Health  Ineos Grenadiers Israel-Premier Tech  Movistar Team  Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling  Saint Piran  Sport Vlaanderen-Baloise  Team DSM Team Qhubeka  Trinity Racing  Uno-X Pro Cycling Team  Wiv SunGod

Stage five – West Bridgford to Mansfield (186.8km)

Route description: Stage five will start and finish in the same places – West Bridgford and Mansfield – as it did four years ago, albeit with a different route that takes in Cotgrave, Gedling, Southwell, Retford and Worksop. Riders will then head into Mansfield via Clumber Park and Sherwood Forest. This will be the only stage of the 2022 Tour with less than 2,000m of climbing.

Stage six – Tewkesbury to Gloucester (170.9km)

Route description: With the start and finish locations separated by a little over 10 miles, fans will easily be able to attend both on race day, which will further add to the atmosphere at this free-to-watch sporting spectacle. Stage six’s route will head into the Cotswolds before approaching the finish by the historic Gloucester Docks via South Gloucestershire.

Stage seven – West Bay to Ferndown (175.9km)

Route description: Dorset’s natural beauty – including the Jurassic Coast Unesco World Heritage Site that runs through the county – will be showcased to the world as riders travel from West Bay, known for its striking golden cliffs, to Ferndown on Saturday 10 September. Stage seven will run parallel with the West Dorset Heritage coast before passing through Dorchester, West Lulworth and Corfe Castle. The route heads inland towards Wareham, Milton Abbas and Wimborne Minster and loops round into the heart of Ferndown town centre.

Stage eight – Ryde to The Needles, Isle of Wight (148.9km)

Route description: Stage eight promises unforgettable for riders and fans alike, owing to the spectacular 148.9km route from Ryde to The Needles. Not only will the route showcase the island to a worldwide TV audience – its county town of Newport, as well as the popular tourist locations of Cowes, Sandown, Shanklin, Totland, Ventnor and Yarmouth all feature – fans will be able to catch the race in multiple locations owing to the way it loops around the Isle. The final 20km will take the peloton along the stunning Military Road, which offers breathtaking panoramic views out across the English Channel, towards The Needles Landmark Attraction. This year’s race culminates with a 2km climb up to Tennyson Down, the final 400m of which average a gradient of 9.6 per cent, making it the toughest ending to any Tour of Britain in modern history.

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Tour of Britain 2023: The Route

The Tour of Britain opens on a 163.6 kilometres route from Altrincham to the finish on Deansgate in Manchester city centre. No time to dillydally, as the 1st stage includes almost 2,000 metres of climbing.

The 2nd stage is definitely sprinters material. Merely 109.9 kilometres long and the elevation gain does not exceed 800 metres. Both start and finish are in Wrexham.

Stage 3 is even flatter, as it’s 45 kilometres longer and there’s less climbing to do. The start is in Goole and the finish in Beverley.

The 4th stage sets off from the Sherwood Forest visitor centre near Edwinstowe to arrive 166.6 kilometres later in Newark-on-Trent, where Fernando Gaviria sprinted to victory six years ago. The route takes in an altitude gain of almost 1,000 metres.

The 5th stage comprises a loop north of start and finish venue Felixstowe. At 192.4 kilometres it’s the longest race of the entire Tour of Britain, while the elevation gain does not exceed 1,000 metes.

At 146.2 kilometres, the 6th stage of the Tour Britain travels on flat to rolling terrain from Southend-on-Sea to Harlow. Again, a bunch sprint is the most likely outcome.

The GC action is, with two hilly endeavours in a row, saved for the final weekend. Adding up to 170.9 kilometres, the 7th stage goes from Tewkesbury to Gloucester. The riders are to conquer 1,841 vertical metres.

The final stage of the Tour of Britain is a lumpy test of 166.8 kilometres with an elevation gain of 2,500 metres. The last 15 kilometres feature a double ascent of Caerphilly Mountain – 1.7 kilometres at 8.3% – before the finale is a flying descent into Caerphilly.

Tour of Britain 2023: routes, profiles, more

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• Critérium du Dauphiné

Tour of Britain 2023

A strong start list heads to a sprint-friendly edition of Great Britain's biggest men's cycling race

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Tour of Britain

• Dates 3 Sept - 10 Sept
• Race Length 1,264 kms
• Race Category Elite Men

Updated: September 1, 2023

Tour of Britain 2023 overview

The Tour of Britain is an eight-day race that offers up a gentler alternative to the Vuelta a España taking place on the continent. Taking place across England and Wales from September 3-10, this year's edition has a sprinter-friendly route that's rounded out with a mouthwatering Queen stage in South Wales.

The stage race's varied terrain typically favours the puncheurs of the peloton, with Julian Alaphilippe (Soudal-Quick Step), Mathieu van der Poel (Alpecin-Deceuninck) and Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) all getting their hands on the overall title since 2018.

The latter of those stars returns to the race this year, alongside another highly talented multi-disciplinarian in Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers). Also on the startlist is his Spanish teammate Carlos Rodríguez and Irishman Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe).

Tour of Britain 2023 key information

Dates: September 3-10, 2023

Country: Great Britain

Category: 2.Pro

Editions: 18 (as of 2022)

First winner: Mauricio Ardila

Most recent winner: Gonzalo Serrano

Tour of Britain 2023 route

This year's Tour of Britain route is relatively sprinter-friendly, owing to the terrain in Britain, but it heads to Wales for a decisive final day which ramps up the climbing.

© Tour of Britain / SweetSpot Group

Stage 1: Altrincham → Manchester (163.6km)

Stage 2: Wrexham → Wrexham (109.9km)

Stage 3: Goole → Beverley (154.7km)

Stage 4: Sherwood Forest → Newark-on-Trent (166.6km)

Stage 5: Felixstowe → Felixstowe (192.4km)

Stage 6: Southend-on-Sea → Harlow (146.2km)

Stage 7: Tewkesbury → Gloucester (170.9km)

Stage 8: Margam Country Park → Caerphilly (166.8km)

Tour of Britain 2023 contenders

The combination of many sprinter-friendly stages and a testing Queen stage on the final day of this year's Tour of Britain mean a whole host of riders could find success in England and Wales.

Overall winner in 2021, Wout van Aert ( Jumbo-Visma ) returns to the race as a hot favourite alongside Tom Pidcock ( Ineos Grenadiers ). Both riders could threaten on just about any of the parcours.

Several fastmen will be hoping to scoop up stage victories with Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma) and Ethan Vernon (Great Britain) arriving at the race on the back of promising seasons, whilst an out-of-form Sam Bennett ( Bora-Hansgrohe ) will hope to challenge too.

Stage 8 includes four category one climbs and will likely decide the overall. Expect the likes of Carlos Rodríguez (Ineos Grenadiers) Tobias Halland Johannessen ( Uno-X Pro Cycling ), Mark Donovan ( Q36.5 Pro Cycling ), Stephen Williams (Great Britain) and Carlos Verona ( Movistar ) to come to the fore alongside Pidcock and van Aert.

Tour of Britain 2023 teams

There are five WorldTour teams at this year's edition, with a further six ProTour teams included in the 16-team startlist.

• Ineos Grenadiers
• BORA-hansgrohe
• Jumbo-Visma
• Team dsm - firmenich
• Bolton Equities Black Spoke
• Equipe Kern Pharma
• Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team
• Team Flanders - Baloise
• Uno-X Pro Cycling Team
• Global 6 Cycling
• Saint Piran
• TDT-Unibet Cycling Team
• Trinity Racing
• Great Britain

What happened in the Tour of Britain 2022?

The 2022 Tour of Britain was cut short following stage 5 due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II.

Movistar's Gonzalo Serrano was crowned the overall winner ahead of Ineos Grenadiers' Tom Pidcock. The pair matched either other blow-for-blow during the five days of racing that did take place but the Spaniard decisively edged out Pidcock to win stage 4 in Duncombe Park, Helmsley, meaning he was ahead by three bonus seconds when the race was curtailed.

Tour of Britain history

The Tour of Britain has established itself as the leading men’s stage race in Great Britain. The race is now in its 19th year and regularly attracts a mix of WorldTour teams and UK-based squads. The race is often used as a stepping stone and preparation event ahead of the UCI Road World Championships but that element has been taken away by the decision to host the Worlds earlier in the 2023 season. That said, the Tour of Britain is still expected to produce exciting racing between some of the best riders in the world.

In 2022   Gonzalo Serrano (Movistar Team) came out on top to win the overall ahead of the Ineos Grenadiers pairing of Tom Pidcock and Omar Fraile. Other former winners include Wout van Aert, Mathieu van der Poel, Julian Alaphilippe and former Tour de France winner, Bradley Wiggins. Sprinter Mark Cavendish currently holds the record for the most Tour of Britain stage wins with 10 victories spanning his long and decorated career.

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