The men’s event will include a Hull to Beverley leg
Olav Kooij of Team Jumbo Visma wins stage three of the 2023 Tour of Britain in Beverley(Image: swpix.com)
Host venues have been announced for the Lloyds Tour of Britain men’s cycling race – and it’ll be heading to East Yorkshire. This year’s edition will take place in Lincolnshire, East Yorkshire and North Yorkshire, before heading to the Scottish Borders for its conclusion.
The Tour of Britain men’s event last visited the East Riding in 2023 when it finished at Beverley Racecourse, where Olav Kooij won the sprint to bag his third consecutive stage win in that year’s edition – one of his seven career Tour of Britain victories to date. Hull last hosted the start of the men’s stage in 2008 when a leg departed from the city centre for a stage finish at Dalby Forest.
Beverley, which will host the finish to this year’s third leg of the race and will have a dedicated Fan Zone, has a long history of successfully hosting major cycling races, including a stage start of the Tour de Yorkshire in 2016 and 2018, and also the start of the C1 para races at the 2019 UCI World Road Racing Championships. Luke Campbell, Mayor of Hull and East Yorkshire, said: “Bringing the Lloyds Tour of Britain back to Hull and East Yorkshire is fantastic news for our region.
“This stage will showcase the best of Hull and Beverley to an international audience and bring people together to enjoy world-class sport. Events like this are about more than a race day.
“It supports local businesses and gives us a chance to celebrate the pride we have in our region. Above all, I hope this inspires people to get active, attract visitors and help show that Hull and East Yorkshire is confident, welcoming and ambitious.”
Cllr Mike Ross, leader of Hull City Council, said: “We are delighted to be hosting the start of stage three of this year’s Lloyds Tour of Britain Men’s event. This showcases again how Hull has become a leading sporting city in the country.
“We look forward to welcoming some of the world’s top cyclists to our city and I have no doubt that the route will be lined with spectators to welcome the peloton in Hull.” Cllr Anne Handley, leader of East Riding Council, said: “We’re incredibly proud to be hosting this stage of the Lloyds Tour of Britain.
“The route will highlight the very best of East Yorkshire, from our stunning coastline and beautiful countryside to the Yorkshire Wolds and our historic market towns. As the race passes through communities across the East Riding, there will be plenty of opportunities for residents and visitors alike to experience the excitement and celebrate cycling together.
“Major events like this help put East Yorkshire on the map, inspiring people to discover everything our area has to offer, with Beverley providing a fitting backdrop for what promises to be a fantastic finish.”
The Lloyds Tour of Britain Men event will start in Lincoln on Wednesday, September 2, with the stages being run each day up to Sunday, September 6. It will be East Yorkshire’s turn to be in the cycling spotlight on Friday, September 4
Jonathan Day, director of events for British Cycling Ventures, said: “We are delighted to be bringing the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men to these fantastic locations later this year. We are bringing new hosts and stages in Lincoln, Boston and Skegness, and Leyburn, and it is fantastic to return to previous hosts of the race in Hull and Beverley, Helmsley, and the Scottish Borders.
“Taking the Tour to Lincoln for the first time, a city synonymous with its love for cycling, will be special for the opening stage of the men’s race, before the route winds its way up the east coast via North Yorkshire, before reaching the Scottish Borders in Earlston. On behalf of British Cycling Ventures, I would like to pay thanks to our partners across the five stages for supporting the hosting and delivery of this September’s race and enabling us to bring another memorable and action-packed five days of world class racing to their communities, spreading the joy of cycling along the route, and inspiring more people to get on a bike and live healthier lives.”
Further announcements, including the detailed routes for the five stages of the men’s race, will be announced in the coming weeks. The host locations for the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women, running from August 19 to 23, will also be announced soon.
If you would like to volunteer at Lloyds Tour of Britain, you can register your interest and play a part in the biggest free-to-spectate event in the UK. The Lloyds Tour of Britain attracts the world’s top teams and riders, with World, Olympic and Commonwealth champions lining up alongside Tour de France or Tour de France Femmes winners and the sport’s biggest names.
For more information, visit britishcycling.org.uk and follow the Lloyds Tour of Britain on social media.