Two further stage routes for this September’s 20th edition of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men have today been announced, revealing the detail for stages three and four of the race in South Yorkshire and the East Midlands.
Marking Yorkshire Day (Thursday 1 August), a challenging route through the four regions of South Yorkshire has been unveiled as the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men prepares to return to the region for the first time since 2007.
Stage three on Thursday 5 September will head from Sheffield to Barnsley, via Rotherham and Doncaster, taking in some of South Yorkshire’s most famous, and hardest climbs, to provide a real test for the world’s top riders.
The 166-kilometre (103-mile) stage will start from Arundel Gate in Sheffield city centre, marking the first time that the race has been to the city since 2006, with the uphill finish coming on County Way in Barnsley, the first time that the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men has visited the town.
Over 2,700 metres of ascent will face the riders, including categorised King of the Mountains climbs at Loxley, Oughtibridge, and Hound Hill on the outskirts of Barnsley, the summit of which comes with just four kilometres of racing remaining, and is sure to be key to the stage victory.
A day later stage four on Friday 6 September will cross the East Midlands, from Derby and through Derbyshire to the finish at Newark-on-Trent in Nottinghamshire.
Starting from outside the Derby Arena, the stage heads through parts of Derbyshire not visited by the national Tour for almost 10 years, before crossing into Nottinghamshire at Eastwood for a 138.5-kilometre (86-mile) leg that finishes alongside Sconce and Devon Park in Newark-on-Trent.
Commenting on the route announcement, Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men Race Director Rod Ellingworth said; "For the return of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men to South Yorkshire we wanted to create a memorable and tough stage, and we are sure that with the route chosen we have done just that. There is a lot of climbing early on in the stage as we skirt the edge of the Pennines, and then what should be a really exciting finale, with the climb of Hound Hill and the drag up to the finish in Barnsley town centre combining for a tough end to the day's racing.
"Our thanks go to the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, and our partners in Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster, and Barnsley, for making the stage possible and enabling us to bring the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men through so their communities, many of which will be seeing the race live for the first time and we are sure will lend their full support to the riders."
Ellingworth continued, saying: "After three tough days of racing, stage four could be the first chance for the sprinters, and having seen the likes of Fernando Gaviria and Olav Kooij win in Newark-on-Trent in the past, we know it is a route and finish that suits the fast men, and also an area of the country where the race always enjoys great support from the community.
"While the roads of Nottinghamshire will be very familiar to the peloton, we are delighted to be able to showcase the Derby Arena with our start, and then head through parts of Derbyshire and west Nottinghamshire that haven't seen the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men for several years. Our thanks go to the East Midlands Combined County Authority and to our partners at Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, and the boroughs across the route for their support of the stage."
About Stage Three
From the start in Sheffield, the climbing will start almost immediately, as the race heads west, skirting the Peak District National Park with the first categorised King of the Mountains climb coming on Long Lane above Loxley within 20 kilometres of racing.
The one kilometre climb averages almost 9%, with only a short descent before the race tackles the second King of the Mountains at Oughtibridge Lane, or Jawbone Hill, a 1.7-kilometre climb averaging 9%, which was climbed by the Tour de France in 2014.
The stage then settles down passing through Chapeltown, Wath upon Dearne, Swinton, and Maltby to arrive at the sole intermediate sprint in the market town of Tickhill after 70 kilometres of racing.
The route skirts Doncaster via Conisbrough and Denaby to then loop around the north of Barnsley through Royston and Darton. From Penistone a series of short climbs culminates in Hound Hill, a 1.5-kilometre ascent to Worsbrough Common, averaging nearly 7% and topping out with exactly four kilometres to go.
While the Hound Hill climb is likely to prove crucial to the victory in South Yorkshire, a final challenge for riders is the last 800 metres of the stage, which drags up along Old Mill Lane and into County Way to the finish line at around a 7% incline.
Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire’s Mayor said: “I know that South Yorkshire will be out in force to cheer on the riders in the Tour of Britain on the 5th September.
“We’re a place that loves a bike race, and I know that thousands of people will be on the streets cheering them on across South Yorkshire, showing the whole world what we’re about.
“The route through our communities, which I am told is one of the toughest of the whole tour, will visit Barnsley for the first time and return to Sheffield for the first time since 2006.
“The South Yorkshire leg will pass through all four of our towns and cities, taking in some of our most beautiful landscapes and hardest climbs.
“The Tour of Britain coming to South Yorkshire is another sign of confidence in our ability to do big, exciting things, and I can't wait for us to be part of it.”
Councillor Martin Smith, Chair of the Economic Development and Skills Committee at Sheffield City Council, said: “Sheffield is known as the Outdoor City. We pride ourselves on our green space and the wealth of outdoor activities we have on offer, including our vast cycling trails.
“That is why it is great news that the third stage of the Tour of Britain Men will start here in Sheffield. We look forward to welcoming all those taking part, as well as cycling enthusiasts from across the region who will be spectating, to the city this September.”
Rotherham Council’s Cabinet Member for Social Inclusion & Neighbourhood Working, Cllr David Sheppard, said: “Over the past few years, we’ve seen an increase in the number of residents cycling in the borough, whether they do so for leisure, health or economic reasons. Having the South Yorkshire stage of the Tour of Britain coming through Rotherham is fantastic news for our communities whether they are cycling enthusiasts or not. and I know that many of our community groups and schools cannot wait to get involved in cheering on the riders.
“The route highlights the diversity of the Rotherham borough from the scenic Wentworth area, to the urban Wath upon Dearne and Swinton in the north of Rotherham, before passing through the countryside onto Maltby in the south of the borough.”
City of Doncaster Council Mayor Ros Jones, said: “Having the Tour of Britain travel through Doncaster is inspiring, and indicative of our continued championing of sporting events as a city. We are delighted to welcome the race in September, and wish all taking part the best of luck. I’m sure many of our residents will be cheering on the cyclists on as they pass through some of our city’s beautiful scenery.”
About Stage Four
For the first time in the 20-year history of the modern race, the city of Derby will welcome the race, with the stage getting underway at 11:00 from outside of the Derby Arena.
Elvaston, Borrowash, West Hallam and Heanor all feature as the Tour heads through the roads of Derbyshire for the first time since 2015, crossing into Nottinghamshire at Eastwood and continuing through Hucknall, Ravenshead, Blidworth, Southwell and Tuxford, before crossing the River Trent to race south to the finish alongside Sconce and Devon Park in Newark-on-Trent.
The East Midlands stage route includes an intermediate sprint, with time bonuses and points towards the sprints jersey available, in the closing kilometres of the race at Collingham.
This year will be the third time that Newark-on-Trent has hosted a stage finish of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain, with previous winners being Fernando Gaviria (2017) and Olav Kooij (2023). This year’s stage is expected to finish between 14:13 and 14:52 on the Friday afternoon.
Regional Mayor, Claire Ward, who launched her ambitions for a Visit East Midlands strategy at Derbyshire’s iconic Chatsworth House last week, said: “Those of us who live and work here know what a superb place the East Midlands is to visit, we need to tell the rest of the country and the world, hosting the Tour of Britain is a huge coup for us.
“The visitor economy supports local businesses, creates jobs and wealth, but we know we can attract even more visitors, creating more opportunities across our counties, towns, villages and cities for people of all ages.
“My mission is to drive inclusive growth across the region and the Visit East Midlands programme is a key part of those ambitions. The Tour of Britain is a great way to showcase what we’ve got.”
According to latest figures from Marketing Nottingham & Nottinghamshire, the Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby, nearly 75 million visitors came to the East Midlands region in 2022/23, supporting over 50,000 jobs and creating an economic impact of across the area was worth £5bn.
Councillor Ndukwe Onuoha, Derby City Council Cabinet Member for Streetpride, Public Safety and Leisure said:
“We’re delighted to mark Derby as the starting city for the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men for the first time ever. Launching from Derby Arena and traveling through Elvaston, Borrowash, and Heanor, this milestone event highlights our city’s growing prominence and offers a unique chance to showcase Derby’s commitment to promoting sports and healthy living.”
Councillor Barry Lewis, Leader of Derbyshire County Council said: “We’re delighted that the Tour of Britain is coming to the East Midlands, travelling through Derbyshire as it makes its way from Derby to Newark.
“We last welcomed the Tour in 2015, and it will be good to have riders back with us in September. The Derbyshire section passes next to our wonderful Elvaston Castle Country Park, and then heads out through Borrowash, up to Risley, Dale Abbey, West Hallam, Stanley Common, Smalley and then through Heanor and Langley Mill before it crosses the county border into Nottinghamshire.
“It is a wonderful opportunity to see some of the world’s finest cyclists close up and experience the thrill of the race. We hope that local people and visitors to Derbyshire will enjoy it alike.”
Councillor Ben Bradley, Leader of Nottinghamshire County Council, said: "We are delighted to see the race come back to Nottinghamshire this year, thanks to our partnership with the East Midlands Combined County Authority.
“It's a huge honour that the race will go through most of our county and a testament to the success of the previous four editions of the race hosted by the county council, which have attracted hundreds of thousands of spectators and generated millions of pounds for our local economy.
“The Tour of Britain is a fantastic opportunity to showcase the beauty and diversity of Nottinghamshire to a global audience, as well as to inspire more people to take up cycling and enjoy the health and environmental benefits of active travel. We look forward to welcoming the world's best cyclists and their fans to Robin Hood County for a fifth time and making it another memorable event for everyone involved. The county has clearly proven itself as a Tour destination, creating lasting memories and a legacy that is hard to beat.”
Councillor Paul Peacock, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council, commented on the announcement, saying; “Last year we were delighted to host both the start and finish for stage four of the Tour of Britain. This year we are delighted to see the Tour return to our district and to once again host the finish of the stage. Last year we saw crowds lining the streets all along the route, with local communities stepping up and decorating the way with some very creative ideas. The Coddington farmer, who managed to get his flock to create a penny farthing was a particular highlight.”
Councillor Susan Crosby, Portfolio Holder for Health, Wellbeing and Leisure at Newark and Sherwood District Council, added: “But, as well as being a chance to have fun, there’s a tangible economic benefit for us as well. The event itself attracted 182,500 visitors to Nottinghamshire, with 62% coming from outside the area bringing a £4.69million boost to the County’s economy.”
“More than half of the people surveyed said that the Tour of Britain has inspired them to cycle more and with there being so many health benefits associated with cycling, as well as being a greener way to travel, I am delighted to see the Tour of Britain return to our district. There are so many wonderful trails and routes to explore, it is fantastic to shine the spotlight on our area again. The route takes in the whole district from west to east, from Blidworth to Southwell and Egmanton to Coddington before returning to Newark for the finish. I’m really looking forward to seeing our residents cheering on the race and getting into the spirit again this year.”
The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men begins in the Scottish Borders on Tuesday 3 September followed by a stage in the Tees Valley. After the stages in South Yorkshire and the East Midlands, the race heads to West Northamptonshire, before concluding in Suffolk on Sunday 8 September after six stages of racing.
More details of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, including the detailed stage timings and competing teams will be announced in the coming weeks.
Fans wanting to enjoy the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men with premium experiences, can get closer to the action with hospitality, in-car places, and exclusive helicopter packages, now available via Sportive Breaks here.
