Prestigious cycle race comes to Northamptonshire
The Tour of Britain Men's event is here in September
The route for the first ever stage of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men cycle race to take place in West Northamptonshire has today been revealed.
Stage five, the penultimate leg of the 2024 race, will take place on Saturday 7 September, starting from the University of Northampton and finishing at the Guildhall on Northampton’s Derngate after 147 kilometres (91 miles) of racing through the area, including Daventry and nearly 30 villages.
Along the way the race will pass through Daventry, followed by a loop south of the town through villages including 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.
During the stage riders will tackle a pair of categorised King of the Mountains climbs at Newnham Hill and Bulls Hill, just south of Daventry, and an intermediate sprint at Holcot, at the eastern end of the Pitsford Water causeway.
Cllr Daniel Lister, Cabinet Member for Local Economy, Culture and Leisure, said:
"We are incredibly excited to host the first-ever stage of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men in West Northamptonshire. This prestigious event will not only showcase our beautiful region to a global audience but also bring the community together in celebration of sports and local pride.
“The route, winding through our historic towns and scenic countryside, offers a thrilling challenge for the riders and a spectacular experience for spectators. We invite everyone to join us for a day of excitement and to cheer on the cyclists as they race towards the finish line in Northampton's vibrant town centre."