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The ‘hardest ever route’ has been revealed for the tenth anniversary of the modern Tour of Britain.
Unveiled at the launch in the London Film Museum last night, the 2013 route includes the longest ever individual time trial (ten miles at Knowsley Safari Park, Stage three), the first ever summit finish for the modern tour (Haytor on Dartmoor, Stage Six) and a Central London finish.
The race gets underway in Peebles in the Scottish Borders on Sunday September 15th, then visits the Lake District and Snowdonia for the first time, before ending in London on Sunday September 22nd with a ten lap circuit race finishing on Whitehall.
The Tour of Britain has become increasingly popular with the public, last year seeing its biggest ever TV audience.
The full 2013 route:
Stage One – Sunday 15th September – Peebles to Drumlanrig Castle – 201km
Stage Two – Monday 16th September – Cumbria, The Lake District Stage, Carlisle to Kendal – 225km
Stage Three – Tuesday 17th September – Knowsley Individual Time Trial – 16km
Stage Four – Wednesday 18th September – Stoke-on-Trent to Llanberis – 190.9km
Stage Five – Thursday 19th September – Machynlleth to Caerphilly – 177.1km
Stage Six – Friday 20th September – Sidmouth to Haytor, Dartmoor – 137km
Stage Seven – Saturday 21st September – Epsom to Guildford – 150.4km
Stage Eight – Sunday 22nd September – The London Stage, presented by TfL –
88km
“This year’s Tour will be an exciting and dynamic route, building on the success of last year’s race and celebrating what has been an incredible ten years of growth for The Tour of Britain and cycling in the UK,” said SweetSpot Group chief exec Hugh Roberts. “I would also like to welcome the return of IG Group as Partners of the Race. I am sure in 2013 whoever wears the race leader’s IG Gold Jersey will definitely have earned the honour.”
Race director Mick Bennett added: “This will definitely be the most challenging Tour of Britain yet. We have several unique features and are very excited about the inclusion of our first ever summit finish. Our longest ever time trial balances the course and will ensure that for spectators at the roadside and at home on television The Tour of Britain is a thrilling battle throughout.”
The Tour of Britain was revived by SweetSpot Group in 2004, with Jonathan Tiernan Locke becoming the first British winner in the modern race’s history last year.
