KLM and Bristol Airport have been announced as the premier sponsors for the Tour of Britain stage being held in Bath this September.
Bath & North East Somerset Council will be hosting a stage finish of the tour, Britain’s premier cycling race, for the very first time on Thursday 8th September.
Stage five, which will begin in Aberdare, will finish in Bath having crossed South Wales and Gloucestershire. This will be shown live on ITV4 and around the world.
KLM operates four flights every day which fly passengers to 800 short and long haul destinations worldwide from Bristol Airport, via a connection in Amsterdam.
Since 2010 Bristol Airport has invested over £120 million in infrastructure developments and is the main regional airport for Bath and North East Somerset residents, and a convenient gateway for overseas visitors to the city.
Councillor Martin Veal (Conservative, Bathavon North), Bath & North East Somerset Council’s Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “We’re looking forward to working with KLM and Bristol Airport again in welcoming the thousands of spectators who will arrive to see the professional cyclists race through our beautiful World Heritage City.
“As well as attracting visitors to the city, the Tour provides an opportunity for local residents of all ages to see top class cyclists, riding high on the back of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, in action and be inspired by them. KLM and Bristol Airport’s sponsorship will support our Summer of Cycling community activities, which aims to encourage residents, young and old, to try cycling for the first time.”
Councillor Veal and Councillor Tim Warren (Conservative, Mendip), Leader of the Council, were joined at the sponsorship launch on Wednesday, 4 May, by cyclist Matt Cronshaw, who lives in Bristol and is aiming to ride in the event after being a member of the winning team in last year’s Pearl Izumi Tour Series.
Shaun Browne, Aviation Director, Bristol Airport said: “ We are delighted to be supporting the Bath stage of the Tour of Britain cycle race. This world class event will attract visitors from across the UK and around the world to the city.
“Visitors will be able to enjoy the excitement and atmosphere of the race whilst in Bath, as well as taking the opportunity of visiting the wide range of tourist attractions available in the area.
“With four flights per day between Bristol Airport to the hub airport of Amsterdam, KLM offers customers the choice of using their local airport to world-wide destinations.
“It also makes the South West region easily accessible to customers wishing to visit the area for major events such as this.”
Alastair Grant – Tour of Britain Commercial Director, said: “We are delighted to be returning to Bath with the Tour of Britain following the success of the Stage start in 2014 and are very much looking forward to working alongside Bath & North East Somerset Council in 2016.
“We were thrilled to hear that they have renewed their partnership with Bristol Airport and KLM which will no doubt spread the word far and wide about the race coming to the area in September.”
Warner Rootliep, Air France KLM General Manager, UK and Ireland, said: “KLM is delighted to be sponsoring the Bath Stage of the Tour of Britain, for a second year with our partners of Bristol Airport. The sponsorship shows our commitment to the South West and Wales region.
“As the UK’s largest regional full service intercontinental carrier, we are dedicated to linking the local community to KLM’s extensive worldwide network of over 150 destinations. We are proud to sponsor such an iconic event and I wish all the participants the best of luck.”
The Tour of Britain will begin in Glasgow on Sunday 4th September and finish in the heart of London on Sunday 11th September.
Details of the exact route and where the stage will finish in the city will be announced in the coming months by Bath & North East Somerset Council and organisers SweetSpot.
Bath previously hosted a stage start of the 2014 Tour of Britain and last year’s final round of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series.
