Today we can announce the host venues for this year’s Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, as 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 Route
Taking place between Tuesday 3 and Sunday 8 September, riders will get underway in the picturesque Scottish Borders, which welcomes its tenth edition of the modern Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men. An opening leg will both start and finish in the cobbled market square of Kelso, which has twice before seen memorable stage finishes, with spectators due to be treated to a finishing circuit on this stage, giving the opportunity to watch the stage unfold.
The race then crosses into England for stage two in the Tees Valley on Wednesday 4 September. An area becoming very familiar to cycling fans over the past few years, the stage will begin in Darlington, host of this year’s Lloyds Bank National Circuit Race Championships.
It will be the first time that the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men has visited since 2009 when the town hosted its second stage start, while Redcar gets to host a stage finish, having hosted a start during the 2022 race.
The stage will take in some of the popular Lloyds Bank British National Road Race Championship route, including the climb of Saltburn Bank, as it travels through the Tees Valley and North York Moors National Park, before a finish on the seafront in Redcar.
The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men returns to South Yorkshire for the first time since 2007 on stage three on Thursday 5 September. Having hosted stage finishes on three occasions, but not since 2006, Sheffield will host the stage start, with the finish of a tough day of racing coming in Barnsley. While the town is a first-time host of the Tour, it is no stranger to pro-cycling, having, like Sheffield, successfully held several rounds of the Lloyds Bank National Circuit Series.
Details of the start and finish venues for stage four, which will see another new host venue for the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, will be announced in the coming weeks.
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. While the town has twice hosted stage finishes in the women’s race, this will be the first time that the men’s Tour has visited Northampton.
Having hosted the opening stage of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men in 2012, this year sees Suffolk having the chance to host the final stage of the race for the first time, with the last stage, on Sunday 8 September, starting and finishing in East Suffolk.
Starting from the promenade in Lowestoft – the UK’s most easterly settlement and the final new venue for the 2024 race – stage six will take in some of the roads familiar to the peloton from the Tour’s previous six visits to Suffolk.
Sea Road in Felixstowe will hold the stage finish, the scene of an audacious stage victory by Wout van Aert 12 months ago which set him up for the overall race victory.
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.”
Councillor Scott Hamilton, Scottish Borders Council’s Executive Member for Community and Business Development, said: “I am delighted that we will once again be welcoming the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain back to the Scottish Borders and I’m incredibly proud that we’ll be hosting the first stage, entirely within our area.
“The South of Scotland was recognised as a UCI Bike Region last year and also hosted various events as part of the 2023 UCI Cycling World Championships. We continue to do all we can along with our partners to maximise the power of the bike for the benefit of everyone in the region, and the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain can help play its part.”
Tees Valley Mayor Ben Houchen said: “It is fantastic news that our area will be hosting a stage of the Tour of Britain and we look forward to welcoming some of the world’s best riders.
“This event will further grow our reputation as a great destination for cycling and showcase the amazing locations we have to offer such as Saltburn Bank.”
South Yorkshire’s Mayor Oliver Coppard, said: “South Yorkshire is a place that loves a bike race, and even more, loves to welcome the world. We did it when we hosted the Grand Depart in 2017 and with the Tour de Yorkshire in 2017. So I know we will be out in force to cheer on the riders in the Tour of Britain, with thousands of people on the streets cheering the riders on across South Yorkshire."
“From Redmires to Roche Abbey, Conisbrough to Cubley, the South Yorkshire leg will pass through our incredible cities, towns and villages, taking in some of our most beautiful landscapes. The Tour of Britain coming to South Yorkshire is another sign of confidence in our ability to big, exciting things, and in can't wait for us to be part of it.”
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.”
Cllr Sarah Whitelock, East Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for Communities, Culture, Leisure and Tourism said: “We are thrilled to see the return of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men this year, which is especially exciting as the entire final stage will be held within East Suffolk."
“National sporting events such as the Tour of Britain bring huge benefits to the area, attracting visitors to the district and providing a real boost for local businesses and communities. We are looking forward to September and seeing this amazing sporting spectacle in our district.”
More details of all six stages of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, including route maps and detailed timings, will be announcing in the coming weeks.
Photo credit: SWpix.com