The UK’s premier elite males’s race returns in a brand new format this September, now run by British Biking. The Tour of Britain Males seemed prefer it could possibly be unsure at instances over the previous 12 months, however it’s now again, with new sponsorship too, from Lloyds Financial institution.
A well-known, powerful route, which takes place over six phases from Kelso in Scotland to Felixstowe in Suffolk, starting on 3 September, will see riders sort out a wide range of terrain, from lumpy programs within the opening days, to a ultimate quick dash stage, all on Britain’s grippy roads.
The race has misplaced two phases, and is now a six-day affair, to make it equal with the Tour of Britain Girls, which was held in June.
4 main WorldTour groups are set to be on the beginning line in Scotland, together with Ineos Grenadiers with their star Olympian Tom Pidcock, and Soudal-Fast Step with their very own star Olympian in Remco Evenepoel, winner of the street race and time trial in Paris. Being a former Vuelta a España winner, Evenepoel will certainly be the favorite, however in his personal group he’ll face competitors from a former ToB winner, Julian Alaphilippe. The opposite two WorldTour groups shall be Bahrain Victorious and DSM-Firmenich-PostNL.
Nonetheless, Visma-Lease a Bike, the group of final 12 months’s race winner Wout van Aert, have opted to take a seat out the race this 12 months. In Pidcock, Alaphilippe and Evenepoel, the Tour of Britain boasts a stellar line-up at its high finish.
The WorldTour lot shall be joined by three ProTeams – Uno-X Mobility, Israel-Premier Tech and Q36.5 – and 11 Continental groups, plus a Nice Britain nationwide group. Being the one two British Continental groups left, Saint Piran and Trinity will each be hoping to make an impression on their house race.
Saint Piran had been commonly seen in 2023, with Jack Rootkin-Grey and Alex Richardson typically on the assault on house roads. The Cornwall-based group finally recorded its greatest ever outcome within the common classification via Zeb Kyffin, who completed sixth general. With no Rootkin-Grey, Richardson or Kyffin this 12 months, the squad shall be compelled to deliver totally different faces to the fore. A type of is Will Tidball, world champion within the scratch race on the observe. “From the primary stage to the final, the assist for us on the roadside [last year] gave me goosebumps,” Tidball mentioned.
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“When you find yourself at your restrict and also you see Saint Piran flags and listen to your identify known as, it offers that little bit extra motivation. The chance to race on this spectacle is a dream come true. At Saint Piran we race everywhere in the world however the Tour of Britain is actually particular.”
Tour of Britain phases
(Picture credit score: British Biking/Tour of Britain)
| Stage | Date | Begin | End | Distance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Tuesday, 3 September | Kelso | Kelso | 181.9km |
| 2 | Wednesday, 4 September | Darlington | Redcar | 152.1km |
| 3 | Thursday, 5 September | Sheffield | Barnsley | 166.1km |
| 4 | Friday, 6 September | Derby | Newark | 138.5km |
| 5 | Saturday, 7 September | Northampton | Northampton | 146.9km |
| 6 | Sunday, 8 September | Lowestoft | Felixstowe | 158.4km |
Tour of Britain contenders
(Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Remco Evenepoel
Soudal Fast-Step
Belgium
ToB begins: 0
The Olympic street race and time trial gold medallist competes in Britain for the primary time since changing into time trial world champion in Glasgow final August. Nonetheless solely 24, Evenepoel is the excellent favorite to triumph in what shall be his first ever participation within the Tour of Britain. In addition to aiming for general victory, the Tour de France’s third-placed finisher and greatest younger rider can even be focusing on stage wins alongside the way in which. Levels two and three appear primed for one in all his trademark solo assaults within the ultimate hour of racing, particularly with bonus seconds accessible for the primary three riders to summit the final climb on every day.
Supported by a really sturdy Soudal Fast-Step group, Evenepoel, who additionally received the 2022 Vuelta a España, shall be assured of changing into the third Belgian winner in 4 years, after Wout van Aert’s two victories in 2021 and 2023.
(Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Julian Alaphilippe
Soudal Fast-Step
France
ToB begins: 2
ToB greatest outcome: 1st, GC, 2018
Winner of the race in 2018, when he received a stage and completed second in one other two, the likeable Frenchman strains up as soon as once more for his final stage race for Soudal-Fast Step earlier than transferring to Tudor Biking, the Swiss group run by Fabian Cancellara.
Though he has received thrice in 2024, together with a memorable stage victory on the Giro d’Italia, judged by his earlier lofty requirements, the two-time world champion has struggled for constant type since 2022. Nonetheless, he shall be one in all Soudal’s two GC choices together with Remco Evenepoel, and he shall be among the many contenders to win the opening three phases. On his final look within the race, again in 2021, Alaphilippe completed third on GC and got here near successful three phases. A Soudal one-two will not be out of the query.
(Picture credit score: Getty Pictures)
Tom Pidcock
Ineos Grenadiers
Nice Britain
ToB begins: 3
ToB greatest outcome: 2nd, GC, 2022
The Olympic mountain bike champion competes in his fourth Tour of Britain, in search of an as but elusive stage victory. After making his debut as a promising 19-year-old within the 2018 version, he completed second general and took the factors jersey within the curtailed 2022 version, reduce brief because of the dying of Queen Elizabeth II. Final 12 months, he was fifth on GC going into the ultimate weekend, however saddle sores compelled his withdrawal, bringing the curtain down on his season.
Maybe surprisingly given his array of skills, the Ineos Grenadiers chief has solely received 5 street races as a professional. Can he add to his tally in his house tour? Stage three takes place in his native Yorkshire and its parcours lends itself to Pidcock’s strengths
Joe Blackmore
Israel-Premier Tech
Nice Britain
ToB begins: 0
21-year-old former mountain biker Blackmore has loved a breakthrough season with a number of wins and an early step as much as the WorldTour ranks. Final week, he received the Tour de l’Avenir, the primary ever Brit to take action. Most likely essentially the most in-form rider on the race, given he received a six-stage race most lately.
Matej Mohorič
Bahrain-Victorious
Slovenia
ToB begins: 0
Mohorič makes his debut for a really sturdy Bahrain-Victorious group who shall be Soudal Fast-Step’s principal rivals in the course of the six days of racing. There may be few lengthy, twisting descents for Mohorič to deploy his dropper put up, as he famously did en path to successful Milan-San Remo in 2022, however the Slovenian will just like the look of the ending parcours of phases two and three.
The three-time Tour de France stage winner has received simply as soon as outdoors of his nationwide time trial championships this 12 months, however is a menace any time he finds himself on the entrance of the race within the latter phases. The dearth of hills in the previous couple of phases received’t deter him: he has gone lengthy on flat days and received sprints earlier than, together with on the Tour de France.
Ethan Hayter
Ineos Grenadiers
Nice Britain
ToB begins: 3
ToB greatest outcome: 2nd, GC, 2021
Within the 2021 Tour of Britain, Hayter was engaged in a thrilling and tense battle with Wout van Aert and Julian Alaphilippe, selecting up two stage wins alongside the way in which (together with a group time trial victory) and ending second on GC to Van Aert by simply six seconds. Since then, the Londonder’s type has been extra sporadic, largely due to his dedication to the observe, the place he received silver within the group pursuit at Paris 2024 however missed out on a medal within the omnium.
The 25-year-old has continued to rack up the wins on the street, although, together with time trials, sprints and brief uphill finishes, and given the reigning British champion’s versatility, he might feasibly be victorious in all six phases at this 12 months’s race. After 5 years at Ineos, this shall be one in all his final races for the British group because the VC Londres graduate strikes to Soudal- Fast Step for subsequent 12 months.
Ethan Vernon
Israel-Premier Tech
Nice Britain
ToB begins: 3
ToB greatest outcome: 2nd, GC, 2023
Contemporary from successful a silver medal on the Paris Olympics within the group pursuit, a outcome that the 23-year-old has vowed to improve to gold in Los Angeles in 2028, Vernon is racing his fourth Tour of Britain in six years. Vernon is arguably the quickest rider at this race, and has probability of successful any of the anticipated three sprints. He could have additional motivation to triumph on stage 5 in Northampton, along with his house in Bedford lower than 30 miles away.
Vernon is in his first of three seasons at Israel-Premier Tech after two years at Soudal- Fast Step the place he picked up eight victories, together with two at WorldTour degree. With observe taking a backseat within the coming years, he’s hoping to ascertain himself as probably the greatest fastmen within the peloton, and he could have a robust leadout supporting him in his house race, together with Coventry-born Jake Stewart.
Dwelling hopes
Stage one begins in Kelso, the hometown of Oscar Onley, and the Scot shall be DSM-Firmenich PostNL’s GC hope on the race. The 21-year-old received a stage of the Tour Down Beneath in January and shall be optimistic of ending on the rostrum. His team-mate and fellow Scotsman, 24-year-old Sean Flynn, could possibly be in competition in the course of the dash phases.
Israel-Premier Tech boasts one other potential British winners of the race of their six-man group: Stevie Williams. 28-year-old Welshman Williams has loved his greatest ever season, successful La Flèche Wallonne and the Tour Down Beneath, and making his Tour de France debut.
Cousins Connor and Ben Swift, each former British champions, shall be driving for Ineos Grenadiers, with stage three going down on the previous’s house roads.
Saint Piran’s Ollie Wooden picked up silver within the males’s group pursuit at Paris 2024, testomony to the Yorkshireman’s fast flip of velocity. Fellow fastman 19-year-old Matthew Brennan shall be main a composite Workforce GB that features Ben Wiggins, son of 2012 Tour de France champion Bradley.
Tour of Britain stage information
Stage 1
Tuesday 3 September
Kelso > Kelso (181.9km)
(Picture credit score: Tour of Britain/British Biking)
The primary two phases of the Tour of Britain Males are, in line with British Biking, set to be the hardest within the race’s historical past with greater than 5,000m of elevation achieve on the menu because the race kicks off within the Scottish borders earlier than transferring into northern England. Stage one takes place solely within the Scottish borders, beginning and ending within the city of Kelso. As soon as beneath means, the riders will journey via Coldstream, Melrose, Denholm, Jedburgh and St Boswells on the way in which again to the end.
The course options three categorised climbs – Scott’s View, Dingleton and Dunion Hill – with the riders tackling the primary two twice as a part of two loops making up the broader course. Scott’s View is 2.5km in size with a comparatively simple common gradient of simply 2.5%, however after tackling it for the primary time, the riders face 10km of undulating terrain earlier than they attain the Dingleton climb within the Eildon Hills. That is a lot more durable, with a mean gradient of 6.2% throughout 2km. As soon as excessive, the route continues south to tackle Dunion Hill, then descends into Jedburgh earlier than returning to Kelso. The riders then full the loop containing Scott’s View and Dingleton once more, earlier than heading again into the centre of Kelso for a quick and livid end.
In addition to the three climbs, there are three intermediate sprints providing time bonuses and factors for the sprinters.
Stage 2
Wednesday 4 September
Darlington > Redcar (152.1km)
(Picture credit score: Tour of Britain/British Biking)
The second stage is about to be one other one for the climbers because the race heads into the North York Moors Nationwide Park and takes on a handful of ascents across the shoreline surrounding Whitby, earlier than the end in Redcar. After the riders roll out of Darlington, the race travels via Middleton St George, Eaglescliffe, Yarm and Stokesley on the way in which to the moors.
With the day’s first intermediate dash out of the way in which at Stokesley, the peloton travels east to tackle a number of unclassified climbs across the villages of Commondale, Castleton and Danby, earlier than reaching the primary categorised King of the Mountains climb at Ugglebarnby, a brief, sharp 1km ascent averaging 8% gradient.
The race then heads all the way down to sea degree at Robin Hood’s Bay, earlier than climbing up Uncooked Pasture Financial institution at a mean of seven.5%. It then heads previous Whitby Abbey earlier than dropping into the seaside city itself. From there, the riders head to the ultimate categorised climb, the 1.7km drag up Lythe Financial institution at an 7.7% common gradient, earlier than heading via Staithes and into Redcar and Cleveland.
As soon as into Redcar, the peloton tackles a small ending circuit that includes lots of the roads used on this 12 months’s Nationwide Championships, which had been received by Ethan Hayter within the males’s race, and Pfeiffer Georgi within the ladies’s occasion.
The ending circuit consists of two ascents of Saltburn Financial institution, which might present the stage winner with a chance to make a decisive transfer. Regardless of being simply 300m in size, the climb averages over 14% and has a pitch of greater than 22% close to the summit. The ultimate kilometres of the day are more likely to be uncovered to the wind coming off the North Sea, which means that crosswinds might make an impression, because the end steadily winds in direction of Zetland Park
Stage 3
Thursday 5 September
Sheffield > Barnsley (166.1km)
(Picture credit score: Tour of Britain/British Biking)
The third stage of this 12 months’s race will present yet one more powerful climbing check, with greater than 2,700m of elevation achieve throughout a collection of punchy climbs. The riders face three most important King of the Mountains ascents at Loxley, Oughtibridge and Hound Hill on the outskirts of the end in Barnsley.
Ranging from Arundel Gate in Sheffield metropolis centre, the race heads north to Barnsley through Rotherham and Doncaster. The climbing kicks off virtually instantly within the coronary heart of the Peak District. The primary climb, Lengthy Lane close to Loxley, comes after simply 20km of racing. Regardless of being simply 1km in size, Lengthy Lane packs a punch with a mean gradient of 9%. A descent follows earlier than Jawbone Hill, close to Oughtibridge, which at 1.7km with a mean gradient of 9%, is the hardest climb on the menu.
From there, the race circles Doncaster and the north of Barnsley earlier than the decisive level of the day, Hound Hill. Riders face a collection of uncategorised climbs earlier than they attain the bottom of the hill, which is 1.5km, averaging 7%. Hound Hill comes simply 4km from the end, which means will probably be circled in riders’ roadbooks as a key soar level for a possible stage victory. Whereas the ultimate climb is more likely to be decisive, the final 800m of the stage are uphill via the streets of Barnsley to the end with a 7% incline.
Stage 4
Friday 6 September
Derby > Newark (138.5km)
(Picture credit score: Tour of Britain/British Biking)
The fourth stage sees the Tour of Britain return to Derbyshire for the primary time since 2015, and features a stage begin for Derby for the primary time within the trendy race’s historical past. Because the race heads from Derby to Newark-on-Trent, those that aren’t climbing specialists can take pleasure in a day of relative respite, with simply 1,229m of elevation achieve on the menu. The stage options no categorised climbs.
After beginning outdoors the Derby observe biking area, the race passes via an array of native villages and cities, together with Elvaston, Borrowash, West Hallam and Heanor, earlier than crossing the county border into Nottinghamshire. As soon as into Robin Hood county, the race snakes its means via Eastwood, Hucknall, Ravenshead, Blidworth, Southwell and Tuxford, earlier than crossing over the River Trent and persevering with southward in direction of the end close to Devon Park in Newark-on-Trent.
As they strategy the end, the sprinters current will be capable of duke it out on the day’s intermediate dash level at Collingham, the place there shall be each dash factors and bonus seconds accessible as a warm-up for the day’s conclusion. The race has resulted in dash finishes on each of its prior visits to Newark, with winners together with Fernando Gaviria (Movistar) in 2017 and Olav Kooij (Visma-Lease a Bike) in 2023, and it’s doubtless to take action as soon as extra this time round, with the ultimate straight to the end being comparatively flat.
Stage 5
Saturday 7 September
Northampton > Northampton (146.9km)
(Picture credit score: Tour of Britain/British Biking)
The penultimate stage sees the boys’s race go to West Northamptonshire for the primary time because the city of Northampton will get to play host to each the beginning and end of stage 5. Though will probably be the primary time the Tour of Britain Males has visited the county, the Girls’s Tour has visited on three earlier events – as soon as in Could 2014, after which once more in 2017 and 2018.
Two categorised climbs function on the route, Bullshill and Newnham Hill, that are each category-three ascents, and they’re the ultimate climbing assessments of the 2024 version of the race. Followers heading to Northamptonshire to catch the race in individual will discover that the day is ideally suited to spectators, with minimal journey wanted between the beginning and end places.
After rolling out of the Waterside Campus of Northampton College, the race heads west and passes via Daventry. It then heads south onto a loop just under the city, that includes each of the climbs of the day. From there the riders head via Abthorpe, Wappenham, Helmdon, Culworth, Byfield and Hellidon, earlier than looping again round Northampton and heading via Watford, West Haddon, Naseby, Kelmarsh and Brixworth. The peloton then passes via Sywell and Ecton because the course winds its means again in direction of the city centre and the end line.
Stage 6
Sunday 8 September
Lowestoft > Felixstowe (158.4km)
(Picture credit score: Tour of Britain/British Biking)
After internet hosting an motion packed stage final 12 months, received by Wout van Aert, the coastal Suffolk city of Felixstowe will mark the finale of this 12 months’s race. Whereas there shall be simply 817m of climbing, it doesn’t imply there isn’t any menace of dropping time on the ultimate day. The coastal roads that function are certain to supply loads of North Sea wind for the peloton to deal with. In addition to the danger of crosswinds creating, the three intermediate sprints at Beccles, Aldeburgh and Grundisburgh all supply bonus seconds, which can show invaluable if the time gaps are nonetheless shut. The stage begins on Lowestoft promenade, after which heads inland through Beccles and Bungay earlier than reaching among the county’s best-known villages and market cities. It’s then out via Halesworth, Framlingham and Saxmundham, earlier than the race heads again in direction of the coast to move via Thorpeness and Aldeburgh.
After leaving Aldeburgh, the race visits Snape, Wickham Market, Kesgrave, and Martlesham, earlier than looping again in direction of Felixstowe and the identical end as final 12 months, on Sea Street.
The end itself has a big sweeping left-hand bend because it comes into the ultimate straight, which is the place van Aert launched his stage-winning surge, attacking into the bend earlier than pulling away. Those that have completed their homework might be able to attempt one thing related.
