Stage of Tour of Britain to be held in North Lincolnshire

One of cycling's most prestigious races is coming to North Lincolshire, it has been revealed.
File pic: A breakaway of three British riders led the Tour of Britain over the Cat and Fiddle, in 2016File pic: A breakaway of three British riders led the Tour of Britain over the Cat and Fiddle, in 2016
File pic: A breakaway of three British riders led the Tour of Britain over the Cat and Fiddle, in 2016

At a launch event in Cardiff, it was announced that the 172km third stage of the Tour of Britain will start at Normanby Hall Country Park and finish in Scunthorpe.

Some 120 of the world’s top cyclists, including Olympic and World Champions and Tour de France stage winners, will take part in the race, which begins in Edinburgh on Sunday September 3.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

From the first 188km Edinburgh to Kelso stage, the Tour heads to Kielder Water and Forest Park the following day and onto Blyth on the Northumberland coast, before heading to Scunthorpe on the Tuesday.

There will be stage finishes in Newark-on-Trent, Aldeburgh and Cheltenham before the finale in Cardiff.

Although the start of the 2009 race was held in Scunthorpe, it’s the first time the event has been held in its entirety in North Lincolnshire.

North Lincolnshire Council leader Rob Waltham said: “North Lincolnshire is a brilliant place and now people across the country will be able to discover all the great things it has to offer when they visit to watch stage three racing through North Lincolnshire.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“In the run up to the Tour of Britain coming here there will be lots going on to encourage people to get out on their bikes and get the whole community involved in this fantastic event. We hope the people of North Lincolnshire will come out in their thousands to cheer the riders on as they travel through the towns and villages.”

The Tour of Britain dates back to the first British stage races held just after the Second World War, and since then various events have been described as the Tour of Britain, including the Milk Race, the Kellogg’s Tour of Britain and the PruTour.

The current version of the Tour of Britain is the OVO Energy Tour of Britain.

Race director Mick Bennett expects the “compact” stage to be popular with spectators who will get the chance to see it from multiple locations. He added: “We are confident we will make it a real hit with cycling fans.”