Northampton to host part of Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men's race
The cycling race will come to the town in September for the first time.
Northampton is to host an international cycling event for the first time.
The town will be the setting for the start and finish of the penultimate stage of the men’s Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain on Saturday September 7th.
In all six legs of the race will be based across Britain.
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.
The ride takes place between Tuesday 3 and Sunday 8 September.
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.
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.”
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.”
While the town has twice hosted stage finishes in the women’s race, in 2014 and 2016 this will be the first time that the men’s Tour has visited Northampton.
More details on the race route will be released soon according to organisers.