Tom Pidcock (INEOS Grenadiers) will race in the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men this 3 – 8 September, becoming the second gold medallist from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to confirm his participation in the race.
The 25-year-old joins the likes of double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel, and former race winner Julian Alaphilippe (both Soudal Quick-Step) on the provisional start list for the 20th edition of Britain’s biggest professional cycle race. He is the first rider to be announced for the INEOS Grenadiers line-up, as the team prepare to take part in their 14th Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men and Pidcock’s fourth.
Pidcock, who retained his Olympic cross-country mountain biking title in Paris, will head to the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men after representing Great Britain in the 2024 UCI MTB World Championship at the end of the month.
Commenting on the news, Tom Pidcock said:
“The Tour of Britain is a really special race for me. Returning to the UK after a such busy year of racing and to pin on numbers in front of the passionate home fans, always provides great motivation.
“I can’t wait to get out there with my INEOS Grenadier teammates in our home race and we look forward to seeing you all out along the road.”
Further British interest will be added by two of the stars of the 2023 race, in last year’s Best British Rider Mark Donovan (Q36.5 Pro Cycling) and Stevie Williams (Israel – Premier Tech).
Williams, who took the biggest win of his career to date at La Flèche Wallonne in April, was the virtual leader on the road during the final stage of the 2023 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain with his attacking riding on the south Wales climbs, before ultimately finishing 14th overall. The Welshman started this season by winning a stage and the overall of the Tour Down Under.
Cumbrian Donovan will be lining up for his fourth Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain, having finished in the top 10 overall in both of his last two participations. The 25-year-old recorded his highest overall finish last year with fifth, earning him the Best British Rider prize.
Joining him will be Q36.5 Pro Cycling teammate Damien Howson, who finished third overall in the 2023 Tour, having picked up top five placings on the crucial pair of final stages.
The 32-year-old from Adelaide will be returning for his second Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, and joins Pidcock, and Julian Alaphilippe as podium finishers from previous editions to be racing this year.
In total 18 teams, including six that participated in this summer’s Tour de France, from 12 countries will line-up in Scotland for stage one on Tuesday 3 September for a field of 108 riders.
The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men begins in the Scottish Borders on Tuesday 3 September followed by stages in the Tees Valley, South Yorkshire, the East Midlands and West Northamptonshire, before concluding in Suffolk on Sunday 8 September after six stages of action-packed racing.
Fans wanting to see the likes of Remco Evenepoel, Julian Alaphilippe, and Tom Pidcock in action firsthand at the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men can now book and enjoy a range of premium hospitality opportunities and experiences, available via Sportive Breaks here.
