Full route announced as West County hosts start of cycling Tour of Britain
The full route has been announced for this year's cycling Tour of Britain, which sees opening stages in Cornwall and Devon.
Last updated 17th Mar 2021
Cornwall will welcome the Tour of Britain for the first time in history when it hosts the Grand Départ on Sunday 5 September. Stage One, which starts in Penzance, will end with a tricky uphill finish in Bodmin 180 kilometres later.
The race will visit Devon for the 11th time in modern tour history on Stage Two (Monday 6 September). Sherford and Exeter will host the start and finish respectively, with a packed day of racing combing some of the county's spectacular coastline with a challenging finale through Dartmoor National Park.
The race was due to run in September 2020 but was postponed due to the pandemic.
British Cycling and organisers SweetSpot will use each stage of the Tour of Britain this September to celebrate and show their thanks to Britain’s key workers and community heroes. Each day will play host to a special cycle ride at the start and finish giving the chance to show our appreciation to the unsung members of Britain’s cycling community.
In the north west of England Stage Five (Thursday 9 September) will start in south Cheshire, a day of racing that culminates in Warrington, which will make its event debut as a host venue, for a finish outside the town’s famous Golden Gates.
As previously announced Cumbria will welcome the return of the Tour of Britain for a third consecutive year with a stage (start location to be announced) that will finish across the Pennines in Gateshead, which hosted a stage start in the 2019 Tour.
The Tour of Britain will finish in Scotland for the first time since 2007 with the overall finish in Aberdeen, the final venue on the 2021 route to welcome the Tour for the first time. Scotland is due to host two stages of the race with Hawick hosting the Tour of Britain for the first time and the city of Edinburgh hosting its first ever stage finish of the race before the final stage begins in Stonehaven.
Hugh Roberts the Chief Executive of race organisers SweetSpot said: "We are excited to reveal more details of this year’s Tour of Britain and what is truly an epic route - one that will take us from the furthest tip of south west England, through Wales, and eventually finishing at one of the furthest points of north east Scotland.
“We want to make September not just about the world-class racing and superstar riders but also through our campaign, Ride for Heroes, to ensure it is a celebration of ‘all things British’ and make it an occasion for ourselves and British Cycling to thank all those who have worked tirelessly over the past year to ensure our wellbeing and safety.
"The SweetSpot team are determined that not only will there be great racing to enjoy but the Tour of Britain will also be way by which communities across the country can come together and show their appreciation for our Covid heroes over the past 12 months.”
British Cycling’s head of sport and major events, Jonathan Day, said: “Though the Tour of Britain as we know and love it today has evolved since its reincarnation in 2004, the foundations of the race have remained true – challenging and exciting routes, a peloton brimming with the world’s best teams and riders, and brilliant crowds.
“We pride ourselves on the Tour of Britain being the biggest and most prestigious cycle race in the UK. As we look ahead to its return after postponement in 2020 we’re sure that the riders on show – who will be going shoulder to shoulder from Cornwall to Aberdeen over eight days – will make this latest edition one of the most spectacular yet.”
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