Bath will once again be welcoming the Tour of Britain, British Cycling’s premier road cycling event, this September, though this time for the first ever stage finish of the race to take place in the city on Thursday 8th September.
Stage Five, which will begin in Aberdare, will finish in Bath having crossed South Wales and Gloucestershire, before the finale in Bath, which will be shown live on ITV4 and around the world.
The announcement builds on the success of Bath having hosted a stage start of the 2014 Tour of Britain and last year’s final round of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series.
Councillor Martin Veal (Conservative, Bathavon North), Cabinet Member for Community Services, said: “Bath & North East Somerset Council very successfully hosted the Tour of Britain event in 2014 and the Tour Series in 2015, so it is brilliant news that we are once again welcoming the event back to the beautiful city of Bath this year.
“These events, as well as bringing thousands of visitors into the city, provide an opportunity for residents of all ages to be inspired by top class elite athletes.
This is particularly beneficial for children and young people, with schools heavily involved in the event, and fits in with the Council’s Fit For Life strategy.
“There will also be opportunities for everyone, whatever their ability, to get involved in community cycling events that will be taking place across the region during the summer in the lead up to the event in 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.
Commenting on the stage, Tour of Britain Race Director Mick Bennett said: “Having hosted a start of the Tour of Britain and last year’s final round of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series we are pleased this year to be working with Bath & North East Somerset Council to bring a stage finish to the historic city of Bath for the first time in the modern race.
“It begins the first of three days of racing in the South West of England that we know will appeal to the number of cycling and sports fans in the area, and what better way to start this than by racing into as iconic a location as Bath.”
The Tour of Britain will begin in Glasgow on Sunday 4th September and finish in the heart of London on Sunday 11th September.
In addition to the stage finish in Bath, Devon and Bristol will also host stages of the 2016 race.
For the fifth successive year fans can look forward to enjoying daily live coverage of all eight stages on ITV4, with the channel broadcasting a three-hour live programme from each stage, plus one-hour of highlights every evening during the race.
Chain Reaction Cycles continue their partnership with the race and sponsorship of the Chain Reaction Cycles Points Classification, won in 2015 by Team WIGGIN’s Owain Doull, while UK parcel carrier Yodel will continue to sponsor the daily intermediate YodelDirect Sprints classification, which Peter Williams of ONE Pro Cycling won last September.
ŠKODA remain official car suppliers and sponsors of the King of the Mountains jersey, also won by Williams in 2015.
The Tour of Britain is British Cycling’s premier road cycling event giving cycling fans the opportunity to see the world’s best teams and riders competing on their doorstep.
