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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Race information

• Date: 04 September 2004
• Start time: -
• Avg. speed winner: 45.15 km/h
• Race category: ME - Men Elite
• Distance: 160 km
• Points scale: 2.1.Stage
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• Departure: Newport
• Arrival: Celtic Manor Resort
• Race ranking: n/a
• Startlist quality score: 200
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• Men’s Tour of Britain Route Revealed (Stages 5 & 6)

The routes for the final pair of stages of this year’s Men’s Tour of Britain have been announced, to complete the stage details for September’s 20th edition of Britain’s biggest professional cycle race.

Men’s Tour of Britain Route Revealed (Stages 5 & 6)

Stages five and six of the race will see the men’s peloton visit West Northamptonshire for the first time, for a 147-kilometre (91-mile) stage starting out from the University of Northampton’s Waterside Campus and finishing on Derngate in Northampton town centre, before concluding a day later on familiar roads in East Suffolk with a 158-kilometre (98.5-mile) leg from Lowestoft to Felixstowe.

Three intermediate sprints, each with time bonuses, on the final leg at Beccles, Aldeburgh, and Grundisburgh, will ensure riders are fighting for the bonus seconds right down to the finish line on Sea Road in Felixstowe.

Commenting on the route announcement, Men’s Tour of Britain Race Director Rod Ellingworth, said: “The penultimate stage of this year’s race is in area new to the Men’s Tour of Britain, which is always exciting as it means that the majority of the peloton will be unfamiliar with the roads that we will be using.”

“With the stage being on a Saturday and its central location, we are expecting a lot of fans to be at the roadside to cheer the riders on. With the start on the University of Northampton’s Waterside Campus so close to the finish line in the town centre, it will make for a great location for fans of all ages to come down and see the start and finish of the stage and to make a day out of it.

Looking ahead to the final stage, Ellingworth added: “This year’s final stage of the Men’s Tour of Britain is deceptive, with plenty of challenges to overcome before our 2024 champion can be crowned on Sea Road in Felixstowe. Suffolk has always provided great racing in the Tour, and this year will be no different, with sections along the exposed coastline that will be a real challenge if the wind blows, while the three intermediate sprints will ensure competitive racing thanks to the time bonuses on offer, which could become very important if the overall lead is slender going into the last day.

“Our thanks go to our partners at East Suffolk Council, and in both Lowestoft and Felixstowe, for hosting the final stage of this year’s Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men.”

CLICK FOR A LARGER VERSION OF THE ABOVE MAP

The stage will get underway at 11:00 from the University of Northampton’s Waterside Campus, where a full day of activities and entertainment is planned, including race coverage on big screens, just a short walk away from the town centre finish location.

During the stage riders will tackle the final pair of categorised King of the Mountains climbs of the 2024 race, at Newnham Hill and Bullshill, just south of Daventry, and an intermediate sprint at Holcot, at the eastern end of the Pitsford Water causeway.

Leaving the Waterside Campus the stage heads west from Northampton, through Daventry, and then onto a loop south of the town over the two King of the Mountains climbs and through Abthorpe, Wappenham, Helmdon, Culworth, Byfield and Hellidon, before looping around Northampton via Watford, West Haddon, Naseby, Kelmarsh and Brixworth for the approach to the finish via Sywell and Ecton.

The stage is expected to finish with a sprint in Northampton town centre between 14:23 and 15:05.

While it is the first time that the men’s Tour has come to Northampton, the town’s Derngate hosted the first ever stage finish of the women’s Tour, won by Swedish rider Emma Johansson, in May 2014, and Daventry in West Northamptonshire has twice also hosted the women’s race, with a start in 2017 and a stage finish in 2018, won by Coryn Labecki.

STAGE SIX East Suffolk will hold the final stage of Britain’s biggest professional cycle race on Sunday 8 September for the first time, with a 158-kilometre (98.5-mile) stage between Lowestoft and Felixstowe.

Stage six will get underway at 10:30 from Lowestoft’s Promenade, the first time that the town has hosted the Men’s Tour of Britain, with the stage heading inland via Beccles and Bungay, and then south through Halesworth, Framlingham, and Saxmundham, before racing along the Suffolk coast between Thorpeness and Aldeburgh.

The second half of the route takes in Snape, Wickham Market, Kesgrave, and Martlesham, before a run in and finish on Sea Road in Felixstowe familiar to riders from 12-months ago, when Wout van Aert took a stage win in Suffolk. The stage is expected to finish between 14:08 and 14:53.

The stage will feature three intermediate sprints – each with time bonuses – at Beccles, Aldeburgh, and Grundisburgh, that will help shape the outcome of who follows in the wheel tracks of Wout van Aert as Men’s Tour of Britain champion.

STAGES Stage 1: Tuesday 3 September — Kelso to Kelso Stage 2: Wednesday 4 September — Darlington to Redcar Stage 3: Thursday 5 September — Sheffield to Barnsley Stage 4: Friday 6 September — Derby to Newark-on-Trent Stage 5: Saturday 7 September — Northampton to Northampton Stage 6: Sunday 8 September — Lowestoft to Felixstowe

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Routes announced for opening stages of Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men

Details of the opening two stages of this year’s lloyds bank tour of britain men have today been announced, marking 40 days to go until the 20th edition of britain’s biggest professional bike race gets underway in scotland..

Almost 5,000 metres of climbing across the first two stages await the peloton, in what will be one of the hardest openings to the race in Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain history.

Stage one on Tuesday 3 September in the Scottish Borders, will be a 181.9-kilometre (113.1-mile) spectator friendly route, starting and finishing in Kelso, passing through Coldstream, Gordon, Melrose, Denholm, Jedburgh and St Boswells.

The route features two loops, enabling spectators in Kelso and Melrose, and on the categorised King of the Mountains climbs at Scott’s View and Dingleton, to see the race in action twice, with the final climb coming 23 kilometres from the finish of the stage.

A day later (Wednesday 4 September), the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men heads to Darlington for the first time since 2009, for a 152-kilometre (94 miles) stage through the Tees Valley and North Yorkshire to Redcar.

The stage crosses the Cleveland Hills and heads through the North York Moors National Park to the coast at Robin Hood’s Bay via a series of short, sharp climbs.

Turning north via Whitby, the stage climbs Lythe Bank and the peloton will tackle the iconic Saltburn Bank twice, the latter ascent coming within the final ten kilometres of racing.

About Stage One

From Kelso the opening stage will first head east alongside the River Tweed to Coldstream, turning north and west via Greenlaw, Gordon and Smailholm to the first ascent of the scenic viewpoint of Scott’s View.

The 2.5 kilometre climb averages 2.5%, and is followed within 10 kilometres by the tougher 6.2% average gradient of the two-kilometre King of the Mountains climb of Dingleton, in the Eildon Hills above Melrose.

The route continues south to Denholm, climbing the day’s third King of the Mountains climb at Dunion Hill (three kilometres at 5.4%) and descending into Jedburgh before returning to Kelso alongside the River Teviot.

Riders will then repeat the intermediate sprint in Melrose and the King of the Mountains climbs at Scott’s View and Dingleton, the latter coming with just under 23 kilometres of racing remaining, to set up a thrilling chase back to the cobbled finish in the centre of Kelso.

The stage will also feature three intermediate sprints, where time bonuses and points for the sprinters jersey are available, the first coming in Melrose after 75 kilometres of racing, and the second in Kelso (128km) on the first passage of the finish line with just over an hour of the stage remaining. The Melrose sprint will then be tackled for a second time after 156 kilometres.

Commenting on the route, Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men Race Director Rod Ellingworth said:

"The Scottish Borders has a long history with the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men and so we are delighted to have worked with our partners at Scottish Borders Council to come up with this spectator friendly, and challenging route, for the riders.

"With five categorised climbs this will be a tough opening stage, and is by no means certain to end in a sprint, so should set up a thrilling battle between the sprinters and those riders who believe the final climb at Dingleton can be a launchpad to victory in Kelso.”

Councillor Scott Hamilton, Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Community and Business Development, said:

“The route for the Scottish Borders stage of this year’s Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men is superb and will be a fantastic advert for the Scottish Borders and cycling in the region. It is especially exciting to have the element of a loop through Kelso, the iconic viewpoint at Scott’s View and Melrose, giving spectators the opportunity to see the race on multiple occasions.

We look forward to welcoming visitors from across the country to enjoy not only some world class cycling, but also our brilliant local businesses and additional activities and events that we are planning.”

Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland Director of Events, said:

“The Scottish Borders have a strong history of hosting the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, and it will once again provide the perfect stage for the start of this year’s race.

“Set against the backdrop of some of Scotland’s most iconic and spectacular locations and countryside, the two loops featured in the opening stage route will give spectators plenty of great places to get out and watch the 20th edition of Britain’s biggest professional bike race.

“Scotland is one of the best places in the world to experience events and EventScotland is proud to be supporting of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men.”

About Stage Two

The peloton will depart from Darlington 15 years on from the last stage start in the town (2009), heading east through Middleton St George and onto Eaglescliffe and Yarm for stage two of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, with an intermediate sprint at Stokesley, before winding its way into the North York Moors National Park.

Heading east the route tackles a series of unclassified climbs around Commondale, Castleton, and Danby, before the first King of the Mountains climb above Ugglebarnby, averaging over 8% across its one-kilometre length.

The race then drops down to Robin Hood’s Bay, to tackle the second climb rising up Raw Pasture Bank from almost sea level at an average of 7.5%, the route then heading on north past Whitby Abbey to descend into the famous North Yorkshire seaside town.

Stage two’s final categorised climb is the 1.7 kilometres of Lythe Bank, averaging 7.7% as it ascends from Sandsend, ultimately taking the race past Staithes into Redcar & Cleveland, where it will tackle a lap made up of many of the roads used in June’s Lloyds Bank British National Road Race Championships, won by Ethan Hayter (INEOS Grenadiers).

The lap allows for two ascents of Saltburn Bank, the 300-metre climb averaging over 14%, but including a section at 22% could prove a springboard for the winning move, with the top inside the final ten kilometres.

After over 2,500 metres of ascent in the stage, the final few kilometres alongside the North Sea between Marske-by-the-Sea and Redcar will offer some respite, but the exposed nature of Coast Road means that the wind could pose a final challenge to overcome in the home stretch to Zetland Park.

Commenting on the stage, Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men Race Director Rod Ellingworth said:

"The tough opening to this year's Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men intensifies on stage two with another day that is relentless up and down as we cross the Tees Valley and the North York Moors National Park. Two years ago, the climbs in this area provided decisive in the race and we are sure they will once again shape the overall general classification battle.

"Thanks to our partners across the Tees Valley, in Darlington, Stockton, and Redcar & Cleveland, plus stakeholders in North Yorkshire, we have put together a route that showcases some fantastic moorland and coastal scenery, while also providing plenty of opportunities for attacking and entertaining riding. I've no doubt that the closing kilometres of racing, with the double ascent of Saltburn Bank, will be among the most spectacular in this year's Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men."

Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said:

“From Darlington town centre to Yarm High Street and from Saltburn Bank to Redcar seafront, we are blessed with fantastic cycling locations and the Tour of Britain will be a superb showcase for our area.

“We look forward to welcoming some of the world’s best cyclists as they take on this challenging route - and also the major benefits the Tour will bring to our great local businesses."

Councillor Libby McCollom, Darlington Borough Council’s Cabinet member for Local Services, said:

“Following on from the success of the Lloyds Bank British National Championships Circuit Race in June, we’re excited to once again be welcoming some of the world’s best cyclists to Darlington for the start of the men’s Tour of Britain this coming September.

“Darlington will provide a perfect backdrop for the start of this stage and we’re looking forward to what promises to be another fantastic event.”

Cabinet Member for Climate and Culture at Redcar and Cleveland Borough Council, Cllr Carrie Richardson, said:

“We are absolutely thrilled that the Tour of Britain is making a return and we’re looking forward to welcoming some of the world’s best teams and riders to our borough. The route which will involve a finishing circuit takes in some of our picturesque East Cleveland Villages, rolling countryside and two ascents of Saltburn Bank before finishing on the Coast Road in Redcar ensuring an exciting finale to the stage.

“Redcar and Cleveland has a proud record of hosting major cycling events such as the British National Road Championships which have recently had a great success in our area. This is another prestigious sporting event which we expect to attract many spectator and cycling enthusiasts.”

Councillor Steve Nelson, Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s Cabinet Member for Health, Leisure and Culture, said:

“We are absolutely delighted to be welcoming the Tour of Britain to our Borough.  It’s a great opportunity for our residents to see the elite cyclists and their entourage of camera crews and support vehicles as the peloton sweeps through.

“The picturesque areas of Yarm and Eaglescliffe will really show off the Borough as a great place to live, work and play.”

Following the opening pair of stages the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men heads to South Yorkshire, the East 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 routes of the remaining stages, detailed stage timings and competing teams will be announcing in the coming weeks.

Fans wanting to enjoy the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men with premium experiences, can now get closer to the action with hospitality, in-car places, and exclusive helicopter packages, now available via Sportive Breaks here .

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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.

East Midland section of Tour of Britain Stage Four route from Derby to Newark announced for August 6

T he route of this year’s eagerly anticipated Tour of Britain has been fully announced, with the international race set to return to the streets of Newark and Sherwood for a fourth time.

Newark itself will play host to a stage finishing line once again on Friday, September 6, with Stage Four ending in Sconce and Devon Park.

The stage has also been designed to showcase both Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire as part of efforts by the new East Midlands Combined Authority to boost tourism in the region.

Racing along the 86 mile route will get underway at 11am outside of the Derby Arena, in Derby, before passing through rural Derbyshire and entering Nottinghamshire at Eastwood.

Riders will travel through Hucknall, Ravenshead, and Blidworth, finding familiar surroundings on the roads of Southwell, Caunton, and Tuxford, before crossing the River Trent and heading south.

Then Collingham marks the start of a sprint section, setting up an exciting end to a day of racing with riders powering through Coddington and down to the finish line at Sconce and Devon Park in Newark.

The stage is expected to finish between 14:13 and 14:52, with estimated route timings to be published in due course.

Paul Peacock, leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, said: “Last year we were delighted to host both the start and finish for stage four of the Tour of Britain.

“This year we are delighted to see the Tour return to our district and to once again host the finish of the stage.”

Susan Crosby, portfolio holder for health, wellbeing and leisure, added: “As well as being a chance to have fun, there’s a tangible economic benefit for us as well.

“The event [last year] itself attracted 182,500 visitors to Nottinghamshire, with 62% coming from outside the area bringing a £4.69million boost to the County’s economy.”

Tour of Britain: Iconic photos from 69 years of the British stage race

From the post-war Victory Marathon to today's high-profile Tour of Britain, take a look through the Cycling Weekly archives at some iconic photos from the country's greatest race

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Bill Seggar (left) struggles to get going in the 1960 Milk Race, while Alex Dowsett punishes himself in a breakaway in the 2014 Tour of Britain.

The Tour of Britain has been around in one form or another since the end of the Second World War, when the Victory Cycling Marathon ran from Brighton to Glasgow. Later it became the iconic Milk Race, which spanned the majority of the tour’s history, before its current incarnation as the Tour of Britain, sponsored by Friend’s Life.

The Victory Cycling Marathon began in 1945, and only one year was missed from then until the last Kellogg’s Tour in 1994. In 1998 and 1999 the race ran as the PruTour, and then became the Tour of Britain in 2004.

Cycling in Britain is now more popular than ever, and the Tour of Britain has acted as catalyst and beneficiary, going from strength to strength. It has been awarded 2.HC status by  the UCI, only one category away from becoming part of the UCI WorldTour .

Now sit back and enjoy some classic Tour of Britain photos from the Cycling Weekly archive…

Norman proves wisdom of first Milk Race

1958 Milk Race : Comedian Norman Wisdom feeds milk to Syd Wilson before the start at the inaugural Milk Race, won by Austrian Richard Durlacher in his only Tour of Britain. Durlacher also won the Mountains Classification that year.

It was always about the struggle

1960 Milk Race : Bill Seggar gets going again after a wheel change on a steep climb. Seggar raced the Tour of Britain three times during his six-year career; his best performance came in the 1958 Daily Express Tour, when he managed second on a stage. Seggar finished 15th overall in 1960, with a podium on the Manchester stage.

Olympian Hinds shows why cyclists are the toughest

1961 Milk Race : Proving once again that cyclists are simply a breed apart, Olympian and four-times-stage-winner Jim Hinds tries to bandage himself up after what looks like a bad crash. Hinds came third overall in the following year’s race, picking up a stage win in Weston-Super-Mare. He rode for Britain at the 1960 Rome Olympics in the road race and individual time trial, but came away without a medal.

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Fans get close to the action

1966 Milk Race : A spectator tries to get on one of the race bikes during the 1966 Tour, something that would probably be greeted with a trip to the police station in present-day cycling.

Time to cool off

1967 Milk Race : A couple of riders attempt to cool down during the race, splashing their faces with water supplied by a spectator. Britain basked in a two-week summer heatwave in 1967, which saw temperatures hit 27°C — admittedly not quite the 37°C riders suffered at the 2014 Vuelta a Espana .

Who needs champers?

1967 Milk Race : Carlisle mayor Gerard Joseph Coogan breaks out the semi-skimmed for stage 12 winner Zygmunt Hanusik. This was the Polish rider's second stage win at the 1967 Milk Race, coming 6th overall.

Massage tables not included

1973 Milk Race : The Netherlands team van lines up with the others before the race. These buses were used to carry around team equipment rather than house the team themselves, unlike vehicles from the likes of Team Sky, below. Dutch rider Piet van Katwijk won the Milk Race that year.

More from the archives

Blasts from the past: Top five British Pathé cycling videos

Five videos from the British Pathé archives dating from 1899 to 1946.

Kellogg's Tour winners are grrrrreat!

1987 Kellogg's Tour: Tour winner Joey McLoughlin poses with Kellogg's mascot Tony the Tiger after the 1987 race. McLoughlin won stage two of the Kellogg's Tour that year and was the GC winner in the Milk Race the year before. He attempted to defend his yellow jersey in 1988 but could only manage second, although he did manage to repeat his stage two success.

A fall on the Ford, rather than a rumble on the Tumble

1988 Kellogg's Tour: Fans look on as a racer takes a fall trying to cross the Westerdale Ford in North Yorkshire.

The Pocket Rocket can hardly contain himself

STEVE JOUGHIN WINS A STAGE OF THE KELLOGG'S TOUR OF BRITAIN

1989 Kellogg's Tour: The Isle of Man has a knack of creating top British sprinters. The predecessor to the Manx Missile, Mark Cavendish , was  Steve Joughin, aka the Pocket Rocket — and here he doesn't hold back in celebrating his Birmingham stage win.

Welcome aboard the 'Death Star'

2013 Tour of Britain : A step up from the team vans from 1973, above, the fully kitted out Team Sky bus, nicknamed 'The Death Star', is surrounded by a crowd of fans. The bus is fitted with a personal area for each rider, a kitchen, a shower and two washing machines.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O4YtJgrNRWA

Haytor worthy of a Grand Tour

2013 Tour of Britain : The British cycling revolution has turned cycling into a mainstream sport with huge public interest. Never was this more clear than at the Devon stage up Haytor , where 250,000 fans lined the route.

Brit pack take control

2013 Tour of Britain : British cycling icon Sir Bradley Wiggins celebrates becoming the 2013 Tour of Britain champion with a shower of champagne, flanked by third placed finisher and fellow Brit Simon Yates.

Dowsett leads a ToB to remember

2014 Tour of Britain : Britain's Alex Dowsett punishes himself in the stage 6 breakaway, which landed him the yellow jersey for a stage . Dowsett instigated the breakaway, which managed to stay ahead, in, what he described as possibly the hardest race in his career. He paid the price for punishing himself on the next day, where he lost the jersey .

Wiggins shows off the latest tech

2014 Tour of Britain : Showing how far cycling technology has come since the days of the Milk Race, defending champion Wiggins gets ready for his time trial on the custom Pinarello Bolide. The Team Sky time trial bike has been designed to make even the smallest of gains through aerodynamic features that would never have been conceived of in the decades before.

Words by Michael Seymour and Ray Pascoe

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Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away , following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed. 

Barbara Guarischi becomes first rider to receive booking after yellow card trial brought in by world governing body

By Tom Thewlis Published 15 August 24

The Croix de Fer packs new features, and rides well too

By Joe Baker Published 15 August 24

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2024 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men: a guide to stages 3 and 4

A detailed look at the routes for stages 3 and 4 of the 2024 Tour of Britain Men

A week after revealing route details for the opening stages of the 20th edition of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men , British Cycling has now published the routes for stages three and four, which will bring the race to South Yorkshire and the East Midlands this September.

Here’s a detailed look at what to expect.

Stage 3 | Sheffield to Barnsley | Thu 5 September

On Thursday, 5 September, the city of Sheffield will host the start of stage three of the Tour of Britain Men, 17 years since the city of steel last hosted the race. The stage is 166 km length and features over 2700 m of elevation.

From the moment the race kicks off, the riders will face a series of stiff challenges. The route heads west, skirting the edge of the Peak District National Park. The first major test comes 20 km into the start with the King of the Mountains (KOM) climb on Long Lane above Loxley. This one kilometre ascent, averaging almost 9%, marks the start of a tough beginning to the stage.

Just a short descent later, the peloton will tackle the stage’s second KMO climb, Oughtibridge Lane, affectionately known as Jawbone Hill. This 1.7 km climb, with its 9% gradient, was featured in the Tour de France in 2014, and it’s sure to test the riders’ mettle once again.

The terrain settles down as the race winds through Chapeltown, Wath upon Dearne, Swinton, and Maltby, leading to the sole intermediate sprint in the charming market town of Tickhill. This marks the halfway point of the stage.

Skirting Doncaster, the route loops around the north of Barnsley, passing through Royston and Darton. The excitement builds as the riders approach Penistone and the series of short climbs that culminate in the ascent of the final categorised climb, Hound Hill. This 1.5-kilometre climb, averaging nearly 7%, tops out with just four kilometers remaining, which should make it a pivotal moment in the stage.

The finale awaits then in Barnsley. As the riders tackle the final 800 metres, they’ll face an uphill drag along Old Mill Lane and into County Way. With a 7% incline, this last stretch is set to provide a dramatic and challenging finish, ensuring a thrilling end to a grueling stage.

Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men Race Director Rod Ellingworth said: “For the return of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men to South Yorkshire we wanted to create a memorable and tough stage, and we are sure that with the route chosen we have done just that. There is a lot of climbing early on in the stage as we skirt the edge of the Pennines, and then what should be a really exciting finale, with the climb of Hound Hill and the drag up to the finish in Barnsley town centre combining for a tough end to the day’s racing.”

Stage 4 | Derby to Newark-on-Trent | Fri 6 September

The following day, the city of Derby will host the start of stage four, marking a historic moment as it welcomes the Tour of Britain for the first time in its 20-year history. The race will commence outside the iconic Derby Arena, setting the stage for a likely day for the sprinters.

As the riders set off, they will navigate through the picturesque roads of Derbyshire, passing through Elvaston, Borrowash, West Hallam, and Heanor. This marks the first time the national tour has graced Derbyshire roads since 2015.

Crossing into Nottinghamshire at Eastwood, the race continues through Hucknall, Ravenshead, Blidworth, Southwell, and Tuxford, before the race approaches the intermediate sprint at Collingham, where valuable time bonuses and points for the sprints jersey are up for grabs.

The final leg of the stage takes the riders southward, crossing the River Trent and heading towards the finish line alongside Sconce and Devon Park in Newark-on-Trent. This town has a rich history with the Tour of Britain, having hosted stage finishes before. In 2017, Fernando Gaviria claimed victory here, followed by Olav Kooij in 2023. A sprint finale seems likely again in 2024.

Ellingworth says: “After three tough days of racing, stage four could be the first chance for the sprinters, and having seen the likes of Fernando Gaviria and Olav Kooij win in Newark-on-Trent in the past, we know it is a route and finish that suits the fast men.”

Featured image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com

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• Tour of Britain

The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men is back this September, and for the first time ever, the entire final stage will take place right here within East Suffolk! It will mark the seventh edition of the men’s Tour to have visited Suffolk, and it will also be the first time that the county has hosted the prestigious final stage – with the last day of Britain’s biggest professional cycle race getting underway in Lowestoft and finishing in Felixstowe on Sunday 8 September. Since its return in 2004, the Tour of Britain has become a cornerstone of the UK sporting calendar. More than 15 million people have watched the event in person, with the race generating over £330m for the UK economy to date. Full details of the stage route , which will start from the seafront in Lowestoft and take in many roads, villages, and towns familiar to the peloton from previous Suffolk stages.

More information on Tour of Britain Men on the British Cycling website .

What does the Tour bring to East Suffolk?

An Economic Impact Report, produced by Suffolk Growth, revealed that over 113,000 spectators lined the 192.4km route of last year’s stage through the county, with an estimated 53% of these coming to see the event from outside of the local area and 89% pledging to visit the area again. The local hospitality industry also benefited with an estimated 9,500 attendees enjoying overnight stays. 30% of spectators cycled to the event with 52% inspired to cycle more often as a direct result of watching the race, supporting Suffolk’s ambition to get more residents cycling and benefiting from the physical and mental wellbeing it can provide.

We would love to see as many local businesses and organisations as possible showing their support for the Tour when it comes to East Suffolk this September. To help, we've created a pack of social media images for you to share through your social media channels, as well as posters which you can download and display in your shop or business windows. This will be available shortly. 

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• Tour of Britain Men 2024 media packs for businesses

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Teams announced ahead of Men's Tour of Britain which begins in Scottish Borders next month

• Scottish Borders
• Wednesday 7 August 2024 at 4:16pm

Eighteen cycling teams from 12 different countries have been announced as they prepare to line-up in the Scottish Borders for the beginning of the Men's Tour of Britain .

Stage one will kickoff with a 113.1 mile route starting and ending in Kelso next month on 3 September 2024. The athletes will compete through Coldstream, Gordon, Melrose, Denholm, Jedburgh, and St Boswells.

More than 100 riders will race through six different stages across Scotland and England marking the 20th edition of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain.

The teams involved in the Men's Tour of Britain include: INEOS Grenadiers, Team dsm-firmenich PostNL, Soudal Quick-Step, Bahrain Victorious, Decathlon AG2R La Mondiale, Groupama-FDJ, Lidl - Trek Future Racing, Norway's Uno-X Mobility, Israel - Premier Tech Team, Q36.5 Pro Cycling, Great Britain national team, Saint Piran, TRINITY Racing, Global 6 United, German REMBE Pro Cycling Team Sauerland squad, the French Van Rysel – Roubaix team, the Portugese Sabgal / Anicolor team and the American Project Echeleon Racing squad.

The tour also includes action-packed racing in the Tees Valley, South Yorkshire, the East Midlands and West Northamptonshire, before finishing in Suffolk on 8 September 2024.

Rod Ellingworth, Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Race Director, said: “We are excited by the line-up of teams for this year’s Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain, and the combination of squads that will be lining up on 3 September.

"Many of the teams have enjoyed previous success with stage wins and overall victories in the race, while others making their debut will be keen to add their names to the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men roll of honour this year.

“We are sure that fans can look forward to six thrilling days of action, and we can’t wait to see all of the teams in action next month.”

Returning to their home Tour, in which they have won 20 stages, INEOS Grenadiers CEO John Allert said: “We’re delighted to be lining up at this year’s Tour of Britain, and excited to get out there and thank our amazing home fans for their support.

“We’ll be racing through some of British cycling’s heartlands, through areas that have produced some of our greatest champions.

“With a number of British riders in our team, I’m sure we’ll give the home crowd plenty to cheer about.”

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Money blog: Trendy area in uproar over Gail's potentially coming to high street

Welcome to the Money blog, a hub of personal finance and consumer news/tips. Today's posts include a look at the discounts available to students, and local a revolt against Gail's. Leave a comment on any of the stories we're covering in the box below - we round them up every Saturday.

Thursday 15 August 2024 13:22, UK

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Thousands of prosecutions for alleged fare evasion are set to be declared void after a judge ruled they were wrongly made. 

It means people who previously paid fines for fare evasion could be due a refund, with a team being set up by the end of November to identify everyone unlawfully prosecuted. 

Four train companies including Northern Rail and Greater Anglia brought prosecutions against thousands of passengers using the single justice procedure (SJP) - despite not being permitted to do so.

The SJP was set up in 2015 to allow magistrates to decide on minor offences, such as using a television without a licence or driving without car insurance, without defendants going to court.

But concerns have been raised that cases are being brought before magistrates without prosecutors, or without any mitigation being taken into account. 

Rail companies were permitted to use the SJP in 2016 to prosecute privately fare evaders, but the Evening Standard reported that several of these cases were brought under the Regulation of Railways Act 1889, which is not allowed under the procedure.

Chief Magistrate Paul Goldspring told Westminster Magistrates' Court in June that thousands of prosecutions were "probably unlawful".

The exact number of those affected is currently unknown, with a previous hearing told around 75,000 people could have been prosecuted for fare evasion offences under the SJP.

Northern Rail, just one of the companies involved, said it apologised for the errors involved.

Greater Anglia also said it acknowledged "a series of significant errors" had occurred.

Locals in a trendy London neighbourhood have signed a petition against Gail's bakery setting up shop in their area.

After (unconfirmed) rumours began circulating that the chain was looking to open a site in Walthamstow village, more than 600 have signed a petition opposing the plans.

The petition, which features a cross made out of two baguettes over the company logo, says the village "faces a threat to its uniqueness" should Gail's move into the area.

"Gail's, although respected for their quality, bring a risk of overshadowing our much-loved local stores due to their massive scale and advertising reach," it continues.

"This could lead to decreased visibility and pedestrian traffic towards independently run businesses, threatening their very existence and dismantling the character and diversity crucial to Walthamstow's charm."

Local business owners have also said they oppose the plans because of the pro-Brexit and anti-lockdown views of Luke Johnson, the company’s minority investor.

Adrian Spurdon, a barista at an independent coffee shop, said Mr Johnson's views clashed with the politics of Walthamstow.

He told The Times: "We've just had this big, diverse counter-protest to protect Walthamstow from the far-right and I doubt Luke Johnson would support that.

"He is very different to the people here. His views are not the same."

The opening of a Gail's - where a regular latte will set you back £4.10 - has become a mark of prosperity in the area. 

Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey said the party looked at where the bakery chain had opened as an indicator of constituencies that could turn yellow, while the Princess of Wales, Kate Middleton is known to be partial to their chocolate brownie finger. 

A spokesman for Gail's said: "We understand the concern around chains, but our view is that a healthy high street is one with a diversity of quality offers, each delivering their best.

"High streets evolve over time and we open our small bakeries often in closed banks or stranded restaurants.

"All of our bakeries exist in areas where the choices are wide and growing – we should be celebrating the improvement in our food landscapes."

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire , business reporter

Despite the Middle East and Russia-Ukraine tension, the benchmark oil price has come down from the highs of Monday to just over $80 a barrel, good news for motorists. 

The value of a pound is down from the highs of July but still better than most of the last six months, with £1 equal to $1.2856. Sterling has done worse against the euro with one pound buying €1.1663, less than could be bought for most of the last three months.

Following news that insurance company Admiral will up payments to shareholders, the price of its shares increased nearly 8%, the most of all the companies on the London Stock Exchange's benchmark index, the FTSE 100. 

As a whole, the FTSE 100 grew 0.06% while the larger and more UK-based FTSE 250 index of valuable London-listed companies grew 0.28%.

Whether or not results day goes to plan today, you can always console yourself with some free chicken, pizza and nachos. 

Major chains like Nando's, Pizza Express and Frankie & Benny's are offering some great freebies for students picking up their A-level results. Most you can get simply by showing a copy of your results to staff. Some have a few extra steps - but we've outlined this below, and most usually just involve signing up for some kind of free app or reward programme.

(And don't worry year 11, many of these offers will also be available when you receive your GCSE results next week).

Nandos: Chicken Bring your ID and results and you will get a free starter or quarter chicken, provided you also spend £7 or more.

Frankie & Benny's: Pizza Each restaurant is giving away 50 free pizzas - you just need to purchase a large soft drink (and show off your results).

Pizza Express: Dough balls You'll get one free portion of dough balls when you purchase a main - for this one you also need to present a valid UNiDAYS offer code.

Wagamama: Free side and drink You need to sign up to the Soul Club app to get this one, but you'll get a free side dish and free soft drink, or cider can, if you order between 11am and 3pm.

Bill's: Dessert To qualify for a free dessert you also need to purchase a main course, or brunch.

Banana Tree: Pad Thai You need to purchase one starter (excluding edamame) and a drink, but you then qualify for a free main meal. Just make sure you sign up  here  first.

Chiquito: Loaded nachos You have two options for this - Chicken & Chorizo or Pibil Pulled Jackfruit, as long as you order at least one large soft drink. There are only 600 available, so you'll want to head down early.

Bird & Blend: Drink Get a magical matcha, refreshing ice tea or a herbal brew if you present your results and your student ID between 11am and 5pm.

Showcase Cinema: Popcorn If you have a ticket for a film today, just show proof you received your results and you qualify for a free popcorn.

Starbucks: Cookie Grab a free cookie with any beverage today.

Bella Italia: 30% off Students get a very decent 30% off their food bill - but you will need to sign up here first.

TGI Fridays: 24% off your bill You need to be a free Stripes Reward member to get this one, and bring a copy of your results.

In a little over a month, hundreds of thousands of young people will once again descend on university towns across the UK - armed with maintenance loans and newly found financial freedoms.

With their arrival comes their business - and retailers and restaurants all fight for the chance to part students with their cash in the form of special discounts. 

It would be a pretty long post were we to list every single student discount, so for this guide we'll go through some of the most notable and our favourites. 

Let's start with the world's most valuable company, which offers various deals to students. 

Buying a new iPad or Mac will land you a gift card worth £120, while you're able to access a cheaper Apple Music plan with Apple TV+ included. 

It's available through discount portal UNiDAYS , or you can read more about the offers here .

Another student essential - bag yourself six months of free Amazon Prime (which offers next-day delivery on thousands of items and Prime Video).

Once that ends, students only need to pay half price for their membership (£4.49 a month). 

Check out the offer here .

If you didn't opt for the Apple Music offer outlined above, then getting 45% off your Spotify subscription might be worth it. 

It's this link to sign up. 

If you want 10% off clothes from one of the world's biggest online fashion retailers, you simply need to fill in this form . 

Another top tip: ASOS often drops prices, starts sales or increases discount when your student maintenance loans hit your account. 

It might be worth waiting for then to use your codes to maximise your savings - you'll get your first loan at the end of September/start of October, one at the start of January and the last will be at the start of April.

YouTube Premium and Music can be yours for £7.99 (plus a free trial month) - allowing you ad-free watching, downloads, background play and unlimited tunes. 

Click here for more. 

An unequivocal student essential. 

Railcards are a must while you're moving around the country visiting friends, family or just making your way home for Christmas. 

They cost just £30 and give you a third off expensive rail fares for the full year. 

More on that here . 

Nike and  Adidas

Two of the big players in sports fashion.

Bag the latest athleisure with 15% from Adidas and 10% off at Nike . 

If you don't like the trainers either Nike or Adidas provide, then take a look at Schuh.

The footwear brand offers 10% off full-price and  sale items - click here to find out how. 

Another top tip: if you like a pair of Nike or Adidas shoes, check out whether you could get them cheaper at Schuh with discounts, and factoring in delivery charges and sales.

Via discount portal StudentBeans, you can grab 15% off at Sephora. 

It's one of the biggest self-care and beauty brands anywhere on the planet, and 15% off will save you a decent chunk. 

Click here to find out more. 

Boots 

Being a student can save you 10% at Boots - sometimes more.

However, you will need to sign up for one of their (free) advantage cars, so maybe one you need to think about.

Check out the steps here .

Burger King

Students can enjoy a free Chicken or Vegan Royale with purchase of a Chicken or Vegan Royale via their StudentBeans portal.

This link has more.

The big night in vendor offers students up to 50% off. 

This is another one you'll need a StudentBeans discount portal login for, but you can get all the details here . 

Through UNiDAYS, you can get £10 off your first two orders (over £15) on Uber Eats.

They're not only offering takeaways, but grocery shopping too, so that's something to bear in mind. 

Details here .

There's 10% off at New Look for students - and you can bag a further 25% if you sign up to their mailing list.

Discount is in-store and online, so there's a bit of flexibility regarding where you shop.

This one is through UNiDAYS, details here .

Grab yourself a free cheeseburger, mayo chicken or McFlurry when you buy selected menu items. 

Read the full list and T&Cs here . 

The delivery giant always offers student deals, but they're yet to make public this year's plans.

You can enter your email address into this link for updates on it. 

Savings on your sex life start at 20%.

This one is via UNiDAYS - more here .

MyProtein 

50% off protein at MyProtein for fitness-hungry students is one of several offers the company has put up. 

Again, via UNiDAYS, which has the full list of deals/offers here .

Sticking with health and fitness, several high-street value gym chains offer discounts, including  The Gym Group  and  PureGym . 

Blackwell's

We've done all the fun stuff like food and clothes - but you do have to study at some stage. 

That's where having 15% off at major book supplier Blackwell's can help. 

All the details are here . 

While we're on the more boring stuff - let's turn to furniture and cutlery. 

Over the years millions of students have descended on the Swedish giant to fill their new rooms and cupboards. 

Offers change every year - and they'll be updated here . 

If you are a regular reader of the Money blog, you will have seen us cover the topic of security tags before. 

We've noticed them on meat, cheese and baby milk , and now some chocolate treats are also getting the yellow security sticker treatment. 

We spotted the tags below at an Asda in Twickenham earlier this week. 

They were placed on a £2.50 box of Celebrations and Lindt Salted Caramel Lindors costing £5.

Also tagged were a £9.30 box of Maltesers Truffles, a £6.55 pack of Raffaello, a £10.50 tray of Ferrero Rocher and an £8.95 Thortons Classic box. 

An Asda spokesperson confirmed to the Money team that "individual stores may tag specific products at their own discretion as a precautionary measure". 

Earlier this year, it was revealed shoplifting had hit its highest level in 20 years. 

The number of offences increased by 37% to 430,104 in the year ending 31 December 2023, compared with 2022, the latest Crime Survey for England and Wales found. 

Several retailers have taken steps to curb the surge, including extra security and body-worn cameras. 

The UK economy grew 0.6% over three months to the end of June, official figures show. 

But there was no growth at all in June, the Office for National Statistics said, as businesses delayed purchases until after the general election.

"In a range of industries across the economy, businesses stated that customers were delaying placing orders until the outcome of the election was known," the ONS said, though added it's difficult to quantify the exact impact.

Gross domestic product (GDP) - the measure of everything produced in the UK - expanded from April to June.

That growth rate was the second highest among the G7 group of industrialised nations, only the United States performed better with 0.7%.

Two G7 countries, however, have yet to publish their GDP data for the period - Japan and Germany.

Follow our breaking story here ...

Aldi is axing its click and collect service within days, according to reports.

Customers will not be able to order groceries online from the supermarket beyond Sunday, said industry magazine The Grocer.

This follows Aldi's withdrawal of its limited home delivery service last year.

The decision was made to keep prices at their lowest possible, a spokesperson said.

"One of the ways we keep our prices low for customers is by running the most efficient supermarket business in Britain," they told The Grocer.

"As a result, we've made the decision to bring our click and collect service to an end so we can focus on doing just that."

Aldi launched the service in September 2020, eventually expanding to more than 200 stores.

Sky News has contacted Aldi for comment.

Tesco is launching "digital passports" across its clothing range ahead of new sustainability rules. 

The digital product passports will allow customers to see information about items in the F&F range, including where its materials were sourced. 

Tesco's Joe Little said the move represented "an important step forward, encouraging and promoting sustainable and circular practices". 

The pilot is being launched with tech company Fabacus, which is run by the founder of Nobody's Child - a sustainable clothing brand that has previously used DPPs on three of its collections. 

CEO and founder Andrew Xeni told the Money team that DPPs provided "a huge opportunity" for retailers to tell their story. 

He said legislation for fashion using DPPs was expected to begin in 2027 so "practical implementation must start immediately". 

What are DPPs and what do they do?  

DPPs show key information about what the product is made from, its origin, history and how to dispose of it properly.

They capture data about the environmental impact of an item and are being introduced across the EU to improve sustainability. 

Mr Xeni compared them to the nutritional information we see on food products, saying they will help people to make more informed decisions about what they are buying. 

It's not clear what form Tesco will present them in, but when Nobody's Child launched theirs, they came as a QR code on the clothing's care label that could be scanned with a smartphone.

By 2030, a range of businesses are expected to be required to provide detailed information on the materials used in their products, and their environmental impact. 

According to a  provisional agreement  from December, products with a high environmental impact will be prioritised as having to comply: 

• Batteries 
• Consumer electronics 
• Electronic devices 
• Construction products

"It's going to hold so many companies accountable," said Mr Xeni. 

Last year, the government's European Scrutiny Committee raised concerns that the scheme could conflict with regulations in Northern Ireland because of the Windsor Framework - the post-Brexit legal agreement between the EU and the UK. 

For Savings Guide this week,  Savings Champion   co-founder Anna Bowes looks at the best easy access accounts on the market.

Although variable-rate accounts like easy-access savings are likely to see rate cuts over the following days, weeks and months further to the base rate cut earlier this month, those who can't lock up their funds still need to seek the best rates.

In a rate-falling environment, it's really important to keep an eye on the interest you are earning and switch if you are no longer getting a competitive rate.

With easy access accounts this should be straightforward because, as the name suggests, you can get access to your money immediately.

But remember that a number of accounts may have restricted access, and if you have one of these, make sure you know what effect a further withdrawal will mean to your savings.

Most will simply allow you to close your account, even if you have made the maximum number of penalty-free withdrawals, but there are some that will not let you have any further access.

That's the case with the current top paying account -  Principality Building Society Online Bonus Triple Access Issue 2.

If you have already made three withdrawals, you will be unable to close the account and have access to your money until the following calendar year.

It's important to read all the terms and conditions when opening a savings account, so that you earn the interest and have the access that you are expecting.

Further to this, there is still some £252bn sitting in current accounts earning no interest at all.

Although inflation has ticked up slightly in the 12 months to July 2024 to 2.2%, there are still plenty of accounts, including easy access, paying an interest rate that is beating the current rising cost of living.

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Tour of Britain 2024 Route stage 1: Kelso - Kelso

Tuesday 3 September - The Tour of Britain gets underway in the picturesque Scottish Borders. The 1st stage starts and finishes on the cobbled market square in Kelso.

The cobbled market square of Kelso has seen two stage finishes in the past seven editions. In 2017, Caleb Ewan outsprinted Edvald Boasson Hagen and Elia Viviani at the line. Two years after that, Alex Dowsett aimed to outsmart the fast men with a late attack, but he was caught within the last 50 metres before Matteo Trentin bested Jasper De Buyst and Mike Teunissen.

The Kelso stage takes place entirely within the Scottish Borders.

As it happened: Kool breezes past Wiebes to take stage victory in yellow

Tour de france femmes stage 3 live - gc battle against the clock, tour of britain 2024 stages.

• Stage 1 | Kelso - Kelso 2024-09-01 181.9km
• Stage 2 | Darlington - Redcar 2024-09-02 152km
• 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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