2004 tour of britain route

Tour of Britain - 2.3

Great britain, september 1-5, 2004, route description.

By Shane Stokes

Although lacking the lofty climbs of the three grand Tours, there are enough steep ascents and rolling roads scattered throughout the route of this year's Tour of Britain to really shake up the field. Somewhat sadistically, the first category one climb comes less than 12 kilometres into the start of the race.

As the climbs are relatively short it is likely that a strongman rather than a pure climber will come out on top at the end of the five days, although Robert Millar's victory in the 1989 Kellogg's Tour shows that it is possible for a flyweight to triumph on this kind of terrain.

In total the riders will cover just over 800 kilometres in the course of the race. High spectator and media interest is expected throughout, due in part to the GB track and road squad's excellent showing in the Olympic Games over the past month.

Click here for detailed descriptions of each stage

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Tour of Britain Cycling Race – A History

Mathew mitchell.

• Published on July 19, 2020
• in Men's Cycling

The Tour of Britain is now firmly part of the professional calendar and has risen to be just shy of Worldtour status. It wasn’t always so though. There was no professional stage race in Britain for large parts of the 1990s and early 2000s. Really the history of this Tour of Britain only goes back to 1987 in the form of the Kellogg’s Tour too. For older people, the largely amateur Milk Race is the race that has stuck in their minds. Not a surprise really, as it is this race that traces its origins back to the 1950s and beyond.

Table of Contents

The Origins of the Tour of Britain

The Tour of Britain made its start as the Victory Marathon in 1945. Raced from Brighton to Glasgow over 5 stages, this initial race was won by Frenchman Robert Batot. The name was dropped but the race continued to be run as Brighton to Glasgow for the next few years.

As the 1940s turned into the 1950s a number of other stage races vied for contention. 1951 had the Butlin Tour see riders race between Butlins holiday parks. A separate Tour of Britain race then appeared the same year. All the while Brighton Glasgow pushed on, becoming Brighton Newcastle in 1953 and then the Circuit of Britain between 1954 and 1956. This was as a result of the internal battles between the National Cyclists Union (NCU) and the British League of Racing Cyclists (BLRC), and the BLRC with itself.

The Milk Race

1958 saw the amateur Milk Race for the first time. The Milk Race was a more international affair that saw riders from the Eastern Bloc traverse the Iron Curtain to race. The Milk Board sponsored the race all the way until 1993. By the 1980s it had lost its amateur status, becoming a pro-amateur race instead. By 1993 the Milk Marketing Board was wound-up as it broke EU rules. As a result of their non-existence their sponsorship ended and so did the race.

The Milk Race became known for its long stages, almost all over 100 miles, and routes were tough. Organisation was interesting with riders sometimes routed over tiny lanes and into fields. There were plenty of tales of riders taking wrong turns and finishing stages may hours late.

Milk Race riders and winners

The quality of the amateur field steadily improved. The 1964 winner Arthur Metcalfe rode the Tour de France in 1967 & 1968. The 1965 & 1967 winner Les West finished 4th in the 1970 World Championships. Dutchman Hennie Kuiper won in 1972, he went on to become World Champion in 1975, 3 Tour de France stages and a win at each of Milan San Remo , Tour of Flanders, Paris Roubaix and Il Lombardia. The 1973 winner Piet van Katwijk won the 1976 Tour de Suisse. 1974 winner Roy Schuiten was a double World Individual Pursuit Champion. Bill Nickson won in 1976 and rode the Tour de France the following year.

The late 1970s and into the 1980s was the era of Eastern Bloc domination. USSR riders won 7 times in 12 years. The consensus was that many of these riders would’ve been professionals under different circumstances. Professionals could race the Milk Race from 1985 when another Dutchman Eric Van Lancker won. Van Lancker would later win a Giro stage, Liege Bastogne Liege and Amstel Gold Race . Malcolm Elliott became the first Brit to win in a decade in 1988, the next year he won the points jersey at the Vuelta a Espana . The infamous Shane Sutton won in 1990. Chris Lillywhite won the final Milk Race in 1993.

Surprisingly ahead of its time, there was even a Milk Race video game tie-in. It looks like something you’d have pulled up on Ceefax, but I’m sure was very exciting in its day.

The Kellogg’s Tour

A new rival to the Milk Race appeared in the 1980s in the Kellogg’s Tour. You would’ve thought Kellogg’s and Milk would make a great combination, they usually do. The Kellogg’s Tour was aimed more at the major professional peloton with the Milk Race still for amateurs (and then pros from 1985).

Joey McLoughlin won the first Kellogg’s Tour in 1987, he’d won the Milk Race the year before. Malcolm Elliott joined him in winning both races in 1988. The star Brit of the age, Robert Millar , won in 1989. By this time Millar had already won mountains jerseys in the Tour de France and Giro d’Italia. The first non-European to wear the Yellow Jersey, Phil Anderson, won the 1991 and 1993 races. Max Sciandri won in 1992, still racing for Italy at that point before his transfer to riding as a Brit. The Kellogg’s Tour bowed out in 1994 with 1988 World Champion (and winner of Flèche Wallonne and Milan San Remo in 1993) Maurizio Fondriest taking the victory.

The Kellogg’s Tour finished in 1994 and after a hiatus, there were two editions of the PruTour in 1998 and 1999. The PruTour aimed at a similar level to the Kellogg’s Tour with the pro peloton invited. Stuart O’Grady won in 1998 and Marc Wauters in 1999 – both were Tour de France stage winners. There would then be another gap until the modern Tour of Britain appeared in 2004.

The Modern Tour of Britain

The modern version of the Tour of Britain made its first appearance in 2004 and is still going strong (the 2020 version excepted for COVID-19 reasons). Its history links to the Kellogg’s Tour as its predecessor rather than the Milk Race. The first race ran at 2.1 level but still attracted some star names in Tom Boonen , Paolo Savoldelli, Michele Bartoli and Daniel Moreno. The first edition had 5 stages but as the popularity of the race has grown, it now features 8 stages.

The race initially saw a mixture of rider types take victory. Mauricio Ardila won the first edition, before finishing 9th in the Vuelta a Espana the following year. Nick Nuyens won the 2005 edition, the same year he won Omloop Het Volk . Edvald Boasson Hagen won 2 stages in 2008 but went better in 2009 by winning the Overall. Boasson Hagen won again in 2015 to join Lars Boom (2011 & 2017) as the only multiple winners. Classics riders often found themselves at an advantage. The General Classification was usually decided by breakaways that couldn’t be reeled in on the tough, grippy British roads.

The 2012 edition saw Bradley Wiggins take part as the reigning Tour de France (and Olympic TT) champion. He would win the 2013 edition, taking advantage of the time trial to create a gap he didn’t relinquish. Steve Cummings became the 2nd Brit to win the Tour of Britain 2016. The 2018 race saw more stars, with Primosz Roglic and Julian Alaphilippe battling it out for the win. 2019 was the Mathieu van der Poel race as he dominated proceedings. Only Matteo Trentin came close to him throughout the week but van der Poel won 3 stages (including Burton Dassett ) to assert his dominance.

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Stage hosts announced for 2024 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men

Today we can announce the host venues for this year’s lloyds bank tour of britain men, as britain’s national tour heads from kelso in the scottish borders to felixstowe on the suffolk coast, over six scintillating stages of racing..

The Tour will take in the Scottish Borders, Tees Valley, South Yorkshire, West Northamptonshire and East Suffolk for its 20th edition, with hundreds of thousands expected to line the streets for Britain’s biggest free-to-attend sporting spectacle.

Three new venues will join the route map for the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men – Barnsley, Northampton, and Lowestoft – alongside the return of five popular host venues, Kelso, Redcar, Felixstowe, Darlington, and Sheffield, the latter two of which have not featured on the route of the Tour for more than 15 years.

Taking place between Tuesday 3 and Sunday 8 September, riders will get underway in the picturesque Scottish Borders, which welcomes its tenth edition of the modern Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men. An opening leg will both start and finish in the cobbled market square of Kelso, which has twice before seen memorable stage finishes, with spectators due to be treated to a finishing circuit on this stage, giving the opportunity to watch the stage unfold.

The race then crosses into England for stage two in the Tees Valley on Wednesday 4 September. An area becoming very familiar to cycling fans over the past few years, the stage will begin in Darlington, host of this year’s Lloyds Bank National Circuit Race Championships.

It will be the first time that the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men has visited since 2009 when the town hosted its second stage start, while Redcar gets to host a stage finish, having hosted a start during the 2022 race.

The stage will take in some of the popular Lloyds Bank British National Road Race Championship route, including the climb of Saltburn Bank, as it travels through the Tees Valley and North York Moors National Park, before a finish on the seafront in Redcar.

The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men returns to South Yorkshire for the first time since 2007 on stage three on Thursday 5 September. Having hosted stage finishes on three occasions, but not since 2006, Sheffield will host the stage start, with the finish of a tough day of racing coming in Barnsley. While the town is a first-time host of the Tour, it is no stranger to pro-cycling, having, like Sheffield, successfully held several rounds of the Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series.

Details of the start and finish venues for stage four, which will see another new host venue for the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, will be announced in the coming weeks.

The penultimate stage of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men takes place in West Northamptonshire for a stage starting and finishing in the town of Northampton on Saturday 7 September. While the town has twice hosted stage finishes in the women’s race, this will be the first time that the men’s Tour has visited Northampton.

Having hosted the opening stage of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men in 2012, this year sees Suffolk having the chance to host the final stage of the race for the first time, with the last stage, on Sunday 8 September, starting and finishing in East Suffolk.

Starting from the promenade in Lowestoft – the UK’s most easterly settlement and the final new venue for the 2024 race – stage six will take in some of the roads familiar to the peloton from the Tour’s previous six visits to Suffolk.

Sea Road in Felixstowe will hold the stage finish, the scene of an audacious stage victory by Wout van Aert 12 months ago which set him up for the overall race victory.

Commenting on the announcement, British Cycling Events Managing Director, Jonathan Day, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing top-level racing and the joy of cycling to communities across the country in September, with six stages to showcase the very best of Britain’s character and terrain.

“We’re enormously thankful to the local partners who are supporting the delivery of this year’s race, as we look to build on the momentum of June’s successful Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women. I’ve no doubt that their communities will be out in force to welcome the riders, and make it another memorable week of racing to cap off a huge summer of cycling.”

Councillor Scott Hamilton, Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Community and Business Development, said: “I am delighted that we will once again be welcoming the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain back to the Scottish Borders and I’m incredibly proud that we’ll be hosting the first stage, entirely within our area.

“The South of Scotland was recognised as a UCI Bike Region last year and also hosted various events as part of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. We continue to do all we can along with our partners to maximise the power of the bike for the benefit of everyone in the region, and the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain can help play its part.”

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “It is fantastic news that our area will be hosting a stage of the Tour of Britain and we look forward to welcoming some of the world’s best riders.

“This event will further grow our reputation as a great destination for cycling and showcase the amazing locations we have to offer such as Saltburn Bank.”

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard, said: “South Yorkshire is a place that loves a bike race, and even more, loves to welcome the world. We did it when we hosted the Grand Depart in 2014 and with the Tour de Yorkshire in 2017. So I know we will be out in force to cheer on the riders in the Tour of Britain, with thousands of people on the streets cheering the riders on across South Yorkshire.

“From Redmires to Roche Abbey, Conisbrough to Cubley, the South Yorkshire leg will pass through our incredible cities, towns and villages, taking in some of our most beautiful landscapes. The Tour of Britain coming to South Yorkshire is another sign of confidence in our ability to big, exciting things, and in can't wait for us to be part of it.”

Cllr Daniel Lister, Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture and Leisure at West Northamptonshire Council, said: “We are extremely excited to be hosting the world-class Tour of Britain race for the first time this September.

“Events like this play an important role in bringing communities together and inspiring people to take up sport and live a more active and healthier lifestyle. They also provide a significant boost to our local economy and showcase our wonderful area to a global audience.

“When previously hosting the Women’s Tour we saw a record number of spectators visiting West Northamptonshire and lining the route to show their support and we very much hope to witness that again this year as we celebrate all those taking part in the race.

“As a Council we are committed to providing opportunities to get involved in sports and physical activity and by hosting this international event showcasing prominent cyclists we hope to inspire the next generation of budding athletes right here in West Northants.”

Cllr Sarah Whitelock, East Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for Communities, Culture, Leisure and Tourism said: “We are thrilled to see the return of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men this year, which is especially exciting as the entire final stage will be held within East Suffolk.

“National sporting events such as the Tour of Britain bring huge benefits to the area, attracting visitors to the district and providing a real boost for local businesses and communities. We are looking forward to September and seeing this amazing sporting spectacle in our district.”

More details of all six stages of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, including route maps and detailed timings, will be announcing in the coming weeks.

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Race information

• Date: 02 September 2004
• Start time: -
• Avg. speed winner: 38.73 km/h
• Race category: ME - Men Elite
• Distance: 172 km
• Points scale: 2.1.Stage
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• Arrival: Sheffield
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Tour de France 2024 stage-by-stage guide: Route maps and profiles for all 21 days

This year’s tour de france will take the peloton from florence to a time-trial finish in nice via some epic climbs in the pyrenees and the alps, article bookmarked.

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The 2024 Tour de France is a truly unique race beginning in Florence and ending – for the first time in its 121-year history – outside Paris .

This year’s Tour will wrap up without the usual procession to the Champs-Elysees, where security resources will be focused on the Paris Olympics starting five days later. Instead, organisers have opted to end the race with an individual time-trial in Nice, adding the possibility of the yellow jersey changing hands on a dramatic final day.

Before that, riders face a typically gruelling challenge, with a hilly start in Italy before crossing to France where a perilous gravel stage awaits in Troyes. Week two leads the peloton south to the Pryenees and the monstrous Col du Tourmalet, before a series of days in the Alps including a particularly brutal stage 19 with a summit finish in Isola.

It all concludes in Nice on Sunday 21 July, where the race winner will be crowned.

Stage 1: Florence to Rimini (hilly, 206km) | Saturday 29 June

The opening stage of the 2024 Tour de France will be a beautiful ride, starting with the Grand Depart on the banks of the Arno river in the centre of Florence before heading through Tuscany to the finish line on Italy’s east coast, on the beachfront of Rimini. The route also takes in San Marino, the Tour’s 13th country. But it will be tough on what is the most hilly first stage in the race’s history with 3,600m of climbing to conquer. It could be a day for Tadej Pogacar to immediately make his mark, or for an outstanding classics rider like Mathieu van der Poel to target, while young puncheurs like Ireland’s Ben Healy and Belgium’s Maxim Van Gils could be outside bets.

• Stage 1: Romain Bardet shakes off peloton to finally claim yellow jersey

Stage 2: Cesenatico to Bologna, (hilly, 199km) | Sunday 30 June

The second day throws up a more gentle ride, though it still contains six categorised climbs to test the legs. The purest sprinters will get left behind but the small ascents are unlikely to put off the more hardy fast men, like Wout van Aert , who will like the look of the fast finish in Bologna.

• Stage 2: Kevin Vauquelin earns debut win as Tadej Pogacar assumes yellow

Stage 3: Plaisance to Turin (flat, 231km) | Monday 1 July

The long third stage will be the first opportunity for a bunch sprint to the finish line. Expect Alpecin-Deceuninck to try and control the final kilometres in an effort to position Jasper Philipsen for the win, but there is a stacked list of sprinters ready to challenge him including Arnaud de Lie, Dylan Groenewegen, Sam Bennett, Wout van Aert and Mark Cavendish, chasing a record 35th stage win to finally eclipse the great Eddy Merckx.

• Stage 3: Biniam Girmay makes history as first black African to win a Tour stage

Stage 4: Pinerolo to Valloire (mountainous, 140km) | Tuesday 2 July

A tough fourth stage takes the riders into France via a couple of testing category-two climbs and to the foot of the Col du Galibier – the first hors categorie ascent of the race. The gradient averages only 5.3% but at 23km long, it is a draining slog of a climb to the top and the strongest climbers will come to the fore. Expect some attacks among the big hitters like Tadej Pogacar and Jonas Vingegaard as we get our first real sense of the battle for overall victory.

• Stage 4: Tadej Pogacar makes statement with dominant win to regain yellow

Stage 5: Saint-Jean-de-Maurienne to Saint-Vulbas (flat, 177km) | Wednesday 3 July

The second sprint finish of this year’s Tour contains some small hills but nothing that should disrupt the power riders from reaching the finish near the front, where they will expect to battle for victory.

• Stage 5: Mark Cavendish makes history with record-breaking 35th win

Stage 6: Macon to Dijon (flat, 163km) | Thursday 4 July

An even flatter day looks ripe for a bunch sprint on the streets of Dijon. One small categorised climb early in the stage precedes an intermediate sprint which might be targeted by those hunting the green jersey, and a breakaway will almost certainly then take to the front of the race. But it is likely to be caught by the sprinters’ teams before the finish as the peloton’s power riders fight for the stage win.

• Stage 6: Dylan Groenewegen wins photo finish in Dijon

Stage 7: Nuits-Saint-Georges to Gevrey-Chambertin, (ITT, 25km) | Friday 5 July

The first individual time-trial of this year’s Tour de France sweeps through thick forest before opening out into the picturesque vineyards of Burgundy. The only climb is the short Cote de Curtil-Vergy (1.6km at 6.1%), followed by a descent into Gevrey-Chambertin, and here Remco Evenepoel – the reigning time-trial world champion – will plan to take some time from his general classification rivals who are less adept against the clock.

• Stage 7: Remco Evenepoel claims ‘crazy’ time trial win

Stage 8: Semur-en-Auxois to Colombey-les-Deux-Eglises (flat, 176km) | Saturday 6 July

It may be officially listed as a flat day, but stage eight contains five categorised climbs and plenty more undulation, along with an uphill drag to the finish which should be enough to shake out some of the pure sprinters from contention. This could be a bunch sprint, a day for the breakaway or even a bold solo attack if the situation presents itself for an opportunist near the front of the race.

• Stage 8: Biniam Girmay secures second stage win in sprint finish

Stage 9: Troyes to Troyes (hilly, 199km) | Sunday 7 July

The Tour de France takes on the gravel roads of the Champagne region to see out the first week, and the white dusty terrain could take down a few unfortunate victims. The 14 sections of gravel span 32km in all, and they are similar to the roads of the iconic Italian race, Strade-Bianche. The past winners of Strade-Bianche – Tom Pidcock, Mathieu van der Poel, Wout van Aert and Tadej Pogacar – will fancy their chances here.

• Stage 9: Frustrated Tom Pidcock narrowly beaten on chaotic and dusty day

Rest day: Orleans | Monday 8 July

Stage 10: orleans to saint-amand-montrond (flat, 187km) | tuesday 9 july.

The Tour heads down to the centre of France, where on paper it is a nice-looking day for the sprinters, but they will need to stay alert to winds which could split the pack along this twisting route south to Saint-Amand-Montrond in the Loire Valley. A short, sharp climb 8km from the finish could be the launchpad for a brave attack, though the muscle men of the peloton will hope to fight it out against each other at the finish in Saint-Amand-Montrond.

• Stage 10: Jasper Philipsen capitalises on Mathieu van der Poel leadout for first stage win of 2024

Stage 11: Evaux-les-Bains to Le Lioran, (mountainous, 211km) | Wednesday 10 July

Six categorised climbs pepper a hard up-and-down day through the Massif Central. The third-from-last ascent is the toughest, the Puy Mary Pas de Peyrol (5.4km at 8.1%), with a painfully steep final 2km to conquer, and strong climbing legs will be needed to win the stage. A good day for a breakaway to escape and potentially stay away to the end.

• Stage 11: Tearful Jonas Vingegaard battles back to pip Tadej Pogacar to victory

Stage 12: Aurillac to Villeneuve-sur-Lot, (flat, 204km) | Thursday 11 July

The ‘flat’ categorisation disguises the numerous small hills dotted through this picturesque route to Villeneuve which will drain legs if the pace is high. Expect a determined breakaway to make it difficult for those teams hoping to set up a bunch sprint at the finish – twice before, the day has been won by a rider in the breakaway here.

• Stage 12: Biniam Girmay seals hat-trick of sprint stage wins

Stage 13: Agen to Pau, (flat, 165km) | Friday 12 July

Pau is a staple of the Tour de France over the years, acting as the gateway to the Pyrenees mountains. The hilly finish to the stage might slow down some of the pure sprinters but they will be determined to reel in a breakaway – especially if they failed to do so a day earlier, and with so much hard climbing to come.

Stage 14: Pau to Saint-Lary-Soulan Pla d’Adet, (mountainous, 152km) | Saturday 13 July

The iconic Col du Tourmalet stands in the middle of this mountain stage, with the road peaking at 2,115m above sea level. The 19km climb averages 7.4% gradient and once it’s conquered, two more big climbs await including a summit finish at Pla d’Adet. The GC contenders will surely trade blows on this brutal day.

Stage 15: Loudenvielle to Plateau de Beille (mountainous, 198km) | Sunday 14 July

A nice relaxing weekend in the Pyrenees is rounded off with five climbs over a 200km route, all rated category one or harder. Expect fireworks among the yellow jersey contenders as they race to the finish atop Plateau de Beille.

Rest day: Gruissan | Monday 15 July

Stage 16: Gruissan to Nimes (flat, 189km) | Tuesday 16 July

This is the final chance for the sprinters to bag a stage before the road kicks up into the mountains once more. Those in contention for the win will need to keep their composure as roundabouts punctuate the long final strip into the line in Nimes.

Stage 17: Saint-Paul-Trois-Chateaux to Superdevoluy (mountainous, 178km) | Wednesday 17 July

The peloton reaches the Alps for a day that will be draining as the road tilts from the start. There are bonus seconds to be collected at the top of the category-one Col du Noyer, before a fast descent to a small summit finish which caps a tough second half to this stage.

Stage 18: Gap to Barcelonnette (hilly, 180km) | Thursday 18 July

A breakaway will certainly have a go at escaping up the road to clinch this stage, and they should be able to make it stick. The five official climbs are all category-three ascents which might mean some of the well-rounded sprinters, like Wout van Aert, can clamber over them and be a threat at the finish.

Stage 19: Embrun to Isola 2000 (mountainous, 145km) | Friday 19 July

Perhaps the most eye-catching stage when the 2014 route was unveiled was this one: three monstrous Alpine climbs, back to back, with a summit finish at Isola. The middle climb of the trio is the giant Cime de la Bonette (22.9km at 6.9%), the highest road in France at 2,802m. If the fight for the yellow jersey is still alive at this point in the race, this will be a thrilling stage for the story to unfold.

Stage 20: Nice to Col de la Couillole (mountainous, 133km) | Saturday 20 July

It may be a little shorter at only 133km, but this is another brutally tough mountain stage featuring four climbs and another summit finish, atop the Col de la Couillole, and it is another day when the yellow jersey could be won or lost.

Stage 21: Monaco to Nice (ITT, 34km) | Sunday 21 July

The race will finish without the usual procession through Paris and instead see the riders contest an individual time-trial from Monaco to Nice that could decide the outcome of the Tour. The last time-trial finale saw Greg Lemond pinch the yellow jersey on the Champs-Elysees, beating Laurent Fignon by eight seconds. This route is longer than the stage-seven time-trial, and a little more hilly too, so there is potential for some significant time gaps.

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Tour of Britain 2024 Stages and Routes

The first details of the 20th edition of the modern race will be revealed in the coming weeks.

Following the cancellation of the 2021 edition owing to the death of Her Majesty The Queen, organisers SweetSpot will continue to work with the local authorities who were due to host stages to explore opportunities to host the race in the future.

One of the most highly anticipated professional cycling events in the United Kingdom is all set to kick off in the first week of September. The Tour of Britain is gearing up for its 2021 edition, which will also be the 14th edition since the reincarnation of the event with several changes in 2004. The cycling Tour of Britain route was unveiled back in February 2021 with the addition of a time trial stage. It now means that the Tour of Britain 2021 has nine stages compared to 8 in recent years. Even those eight Tour of Britain stages were a bump up from the five stages the event used to have in 2004.

The Surprising Route

Tour of Britain 2021 race director Mick Bennett unveiled the cycling Tour of Britain route in the hope of keeping up with the recent momentum of popularity gathered by the event. Several changes to the Tour of Britain stages over the last few years have made it more competitive and brought it to the levels of Tour de France or Vuelta a Espana. Attracting the best riders in the world to the United Kingdom is one of the sole objectives of this event.

George Square in Glasgow will form the location for the start of the 2021 edition. The nine Tour of Britain stages will see riders cover just over 1300 km from September 4 to September 11. This will certainly take its toll on the riders, but there is a consensus that the 2021 edition will be slightly easier than the 2015 edition. Furthermore, there is an opportunity for riders to make use of every Tour of Britain stage to prepare well for the upcoming World Championships in Qatar. This reason alone is expected to increase general interest amongst riders in the competition.

Tour of Britain 2021 – Challenging Parts

The upcoming competition brings a lot of aspects like challenging races and sprint finishes. These are aspects which will have a lot to do at the World Championships. Glasgow last played host to the start of the event back in 2008. It provides a sprint finish to the Castle Douglas since there is no prominent climbs along the way. Stage two goes through various sections of the enchanting Lake District, which may not offer anything out of the blue for experienced riders. The Lake District has been a standard fare of the Tour of Britain in recent years. Even though much of the route will be familiar, riders will have to be prepared for the climb from Ambleside towards the end of the stage.

Stage three at the Congleton marks the beginning of the tough stages. As expected, the stage four takes its toll since it is the longest. As the competition enters into the final stages, riders go through Wales and Bath before a time trial event near London. The final stage will be a replica of the final stage in 2015, which received a lot of rave reviews. Each stage is tough and this will be on the minds of punters when it comes to Tour of Britain bet online.

The growing popularity of the event has also resulted in a number of punters looking for good Tour of Britain bet online opportunities. These opportunities are presented because of the Tour of Britain 2021 odds, which are once again leaning towards the favourites like Alberto Contador. Even though it makes a lot of sense to make an early judgement, Tour of Britain 2021 odds at a later stage will provide a more accurate picture about the favourites for the title.

Tour of Britain 2024 stages

• Stage 1 2024-09-01
• Stage 2 2024-09-02
• Stage 3 2024-09-03
• Stage 4 2024-09-04
• Stage 5 2024-09-05
• Stage 6 2024-09-06
• Stage 7 2024-09-07
• Stage 8 2024-09-08

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South Yorkshire to host 2024 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men Stage - including Doncaster

The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men will return to South Yorkshire for the first time in almost 20 years this September, as South Yorkshire gears up to hold the third stage of Britain’s national Tour.

Stage three of the race, on Thursday 5 September, will head from Sheffield to Barnsley, taking in Rotherham and Doncaster during the route. The race last came to South Yorkshire in 2007 when a stage started from Rother Valley Country Park. 

This year will mark the first time that a stage of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men has started in Sheffield, with the city having hosted stage finishes on three occasions between 2004 and 2006, while for Barnsley it will be a first visit by the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men.

Doncaster Mayor Ros Jones said: ‘We are delighted to be part of such an exciting sporting event, right in the heart of our communities with the Tour of Britain passing through Tickhill, Wadworth, Conisbrough. Denaby, Cadeby and Hooton Pagnell. Being part of such a fantastic event across South Yorkshire gives the opportunity for residents to come together to cheer on cycling at an elite level, as well as inspiring the next generation of local sporting heroes.’

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Tour of Britain Men's race to finish in Suffolk

T he 2024 Tour of Britain Men's race will start in Kelso, Scotland and finish in Felixstowe, Suffolk for the first time, over a reduced number of six stages.

The race will be overseen by British Cycling this year after previous organiser Sweetspot was liquidated in January.

The race, which takes place between 3-8 September, will also visit Tees Valley, South Yorkshire and Northamptonshire.

The 2023 edition was won by Belgian cyclist Wout van Aert for the second time, over eight stages, and this year's race is the 20th anniversary of its modern incarnation since returning in 2004.

The race will start in the Scottish borders in Kelso, which has twice hosted the race before, and will this year stage the start and finish of stage one.

Stage two will begin in Darlington and finish in Redcar, before moving to South Yorkshire for the first time since 2007, where Sheffield will host the start of stage three to Barnsley.

Details of the fourth leg have not yet been confirmed, but stage five will start and finish in Northampton before the finale in Suffolk from Lowestoft to Felixstowe.

"We’re enormously thankful to the local partners who are supporting the delivery of this year’s race, as we look to build on the momentum of June’s successful Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women," said British Cycling events managing director Jonathan Day.

"I’ve no doubt that their communities will be out in force to welcome the riders, and make it another memorable week of racing to cap off a huge summer of cycling.”

The men's race follows the Tour of Britain Women which returned in June, also organised by British Cycling, after it was cancelled in 2023.

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Sheffield to kick off third leg of 2024 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men

The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men will return to South Yorkshire for the first time in almost 20 years this September, as Sheffield and Barnsley gear up to hold the third stage of Britain’s national Tour.

Stage three of the race, on Thursday 5 September, will head from Sheffield to Barnsley, taking in Rotherham and Doncaster during the route. The race last came to South Yorkshire in 2007 when a stage started from Rother Valley Country Park.

This year will mark the first time that a stage of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men has started in Sheffield, with the city having hosted stage finishes on three occasions between 2004 and 2006, while for Barnsley it will be a first visit by the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men.

Councillor Martin Smith, Chair of the Economic Development and Skills Committee at Sheffield City Council, said:

“Sheffield is known as the Outdoor City. We pride ourselves on our green space and the wealth of outdoor activities we have on offer, including our vast cycling trails.

“That is why it is great news that the third stage of the Tour of Britain Men will start here in Sheffield. We look forward to welcoming all those taking part, as well as cycling enthusiasts from across the region who will be spectating, to the city this September.”

Commenting on the announcement, British Cycling Events Managing Director, Jonathan Day, said:

“We’re delighted to be bringing top-level racing and the joy of cycling to communities across the country in September, with six stages to showcase the very best of Britain’s character and terrain.

“We’re enormously thankful to the local partners who are supporting the delivery of this year’s race, as we look to build on the momentum of June’s successful Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women. I’ve no doubt that their communities will be out in force to welcome the riders, and make it another memorable week of racing to cap off a huge summer of cycling.”

South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard, added:

“South Yorkshire is a place that loves a bike race, and even more, loves to welcome the world. We did it when we hosted the Grand Depart in 2014 and with the Tour de Yorkshire in 2017. So I know we will be out in force to cheer on the riders in the Tour of Britain, with thousands of people on the streets cheering the riders on across South Yorkshire.

“From Redmires to Roche Abbey, Conisbrough to Cubley, the South Yorkshire leg will pass through our incredible cities, towns and villages, taking in some of our most beautiful landscapes. The Tour of Britain coming to South Yorkshire is another sign of confidence in our ability to big, exciting things, and in can't wait for us to be part of it.”

Since the last visit to South Yorkshire by the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, the area has famously hosted a stage finish of the Tour de France (2014), as well as four stages of the Tour de Yorkshire (two starts and two finishes) between 2016 and 2019.

Sheffield's Grand Prix has become a popular round of the same series, with the 2024 race taking place in a week’s time in the city centre on Wednesday 17 July.

The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men begins in the Scottish Borders on Tuesday 3 September, followed by a second stage in the Tees Valley. Following the South Yorkshire stage the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men heads to the Midlands, and West Northamptonshire, before concluding in Suffolk on Sunday 8 September after six stages of racing.

More details of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, including the stage three route map, detailed stage timings, and competing teams will be announcing in the coming weeks.

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Tour of Britain 2024

Thousands of people lined the route for the third stage of the Tour of Britain Women on Saturday 8 June 2024! The start and finish of the stage took place outside our iconic Golden Gates. Take a look at some of the highlights from the day.

Photos taken by SWpix 

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Stage three of the Tour of Britain Women started and finished in Warrington!

On Thursday 6 June to Sunday 9 June 2024 , the Tour of Britain Women started and concluded Stage 3 of the Tour in Warrington.

The full schedule

• Stage one – Thursday 6 June 2024: Welshpool to Llandudno
• Stage two – Friday 7 June 2024: Wrexham
• Stage three – Saturday 8 June 2024: Warrington
• Stage four – Sunday 9 June 2024: Greater Manchester

What was the stage route?

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Tour of britain 2014 route announced: stage-by-stage analysis, race director mick bennett dissects the 2014 tour of britain.

The Tour of Britain 2014  will include the “toughest summit finish yet” on The Tumble in Wales after the route for the eleventh edition of the race was unveiled in London.

Great Britain’s national tour has been upgraded to 2.HC status by the UCI , elevating it to the same status as events like the Criterium International and Tour of California, and this year’s route is a reflection of a race which has significantly grown in prominence since returning to the calendar in 2004.

Race director Mick Bennett believes the upgraded status has been long overdue. It brings with it a “new era” for the race, he says, and makes the Tour of Britain one of the top ten non-WorldTour stage races.

“With our toughest summit finish yet, an individual time trial in London and several longer stages, this year’s Tour of Britain has a varied and testing route that will present opportunities to a variety of riders,” said Bennett. You can read Bennett’s thoughts on each of the eight stages via the links at the bottom of the page.

The upgraded status also brings with it a bigger prize fund and, more significantly, a bigger pot of UCI points available to teams and riders and Bennett told RoadCyclingUK the 2014 edition has received unprecedented interest, with nine WorldTour squads already confirmed (Belkin, BMC Racing, Cannondale, Garmin-Sharp, Movistar, Omega Pharma-QuickStep, Giant Shimano, Team Sky and Tinkoff-Saxo), as well as a Great Britain national squad.

Eighteen teams will take to the start line in total and Bennett also hopes to have all of the UK’s five UCI Continental-registered squads involved, though each must earn their place, he says. “Our desire is to have all five Continental teams in the race – but we don’t want to make it easy,” said Bennett. “We want them to prepare for the event and we want them to take their selection down to the wire but it’s highly unlikely they’ll be left out and it’s part of our commitment to support [domestic teams].”

The eight-stage race has also been moved forward by one week – Sunday September 7 to Sunday September 14 – to avoid a clash with the World Team Time Trial Championships and Bennett expects the switch to bolster the quality of a field which already included eventual champion Bradley Wiggins and Tour de France runner-up Nairo Quintana in 2013.

Compact route

The compact nature of the route is also a reflection of the Tour of Britain’s new-found status. The Tour of Britain’s organisers, Sweetspot, have come under pressure from British Cycling and the UCI to reduce the length of transfers between stages and the race will respond by visiting regions on a biennial basis, so expect to see Scotland, which hosted the depart in 2013, and the north and east of England, which this year will host the Tour de France and inaugural Women’s Tour respectively, on the route in 2015.

“It’s a very westerly route this year and that’s something we acknowledge,” said Bennett. “The next five years will be exciting times” – referring to Sweetspot’s renewed tender to run the race – “and we’re in year one of a five year plan.

“We’ve reduced transfers again and this has a natural consequence of compressing the overall route. We look forward to being back in Scotland and the north and east of England in 2015. Over the coming years we’ll see a much greater variation in Tour routes, so while the likes of Cumbria, Scotland and the east of England don’t feature this year, you can be rest assured that they’re very much in our plans for future editions.”

Bennett also remains optimistic that the race may extend to nine or ten days in future, which will allow it to take in a greater proportion of the country.

2014 parcours

Back to 2014, and the race will open with a city centre criterium in Liverpool, followed by the first road stage from Knowsley, where Wiggins laid the foundations for his 2013 triumph with victory in the individual time trial. The stage will take in the climb of the Great Orme headland but won’t finish at the summit – “it’s too extreme for stage two,” said Bennett, “we’d risk the race being all over, potentially, or it being a race of two halves” – and will instead loop round for the finale in Llandudno.

The peloton will remain in Wales for stage three, which starts in Newtown and concludes with a summit finish on The Tumble in Monmouthshire: a six kilometre climb with an average gradient of seven per cent. Following the successful format of 2013, which saw the first summit finish in the race’s modern history on Haytor, Bennett aims to include a summit finish and individual time trial in each edition of the Tour of Britain.

Bennett believes The Tumble will define the race. “It ramps up at the start,” he told RoadCyclingUK. “It’s harder than Haytor and you get crosswinds two-thirds of the way up. If you get a prevailing crosswind then it will be really split up over the top. That will be the defining moment.”

There’s still plenty of climbing to come, however, and stage four, which starts in Worcester, will also feature an uphill finish, with the one kilometre, 10 per cent climb of Bridge Valley Road on the Clifton Downs in Bristol. The race will then remain in the West Country for stage five, with a lumpy route which starts in Exeter, heads out onto Dartmoor and passes over Haytor, and finishes in Exmouth.

Stage six will see the race travel cross-country from Bath to Hemel Hempstead, before the penultimate stage from Camberley to Brighton, marking 20 years since the Tour de France visited the coastal city. The 225km stage, which includes the famous climb of Ditchling in the final kilometres, comes partly at the request of teams and riders, according to Bennett, who want a long stage to prepare for the World Road Race Championships, which will take place on September 28, exactly a fortnight after the Tour of Britain concludes.

The winner will then be crowned on the streets of London – the Tour of Britain has signed a five-year deal with Transport for London to host the final stage in the capital – with a split stage which opens with an 8.8km time trial before a criterium on the same circuit.

We caught up with race director Mick Bennett, himself a double Olympic bronze medalist in the team pursuit at the 1972 and 1976 Olympic Games, to find out his thoughts on the route. Read on for Bennett’s analysis of each stage.

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