After ten fantastic editions we’re able to provide an update for how the Youth Tour of Scotland will take a refreshed look from 2025 onwards.
The 2025 edition will feature a number of exciting changes, namely the introduction of a Youth B Open category and a city centre criterium, which will boast support races that will allow racers of all ages and abilities to connect with the Youth Tour of Scotland – the UK’s premier youth bike race.
Why
Costs, across all areas of life, continue to rise, and we, Scottish Cycling, aren’t comfortable with significant year on year cost increases. As an organisation we can’t afford to knowingly run the event at an increasingly bigger loss, nor are we willing to continually ask riders and teams to pay more. In 2024, having frozen entry fees for a number of years before that, we substantially increased entry costs for teams and riders.
We have been doing a lot of thinking and working hard in the background to explore all viable options to not only evolve, but enhance this unique event. The race’s history speaks for itself with the likes of Tom Pidcock, Zoe Backstedt, and Jenny Holl making the most of the unrivalled development opportunity it provides. 2022 winners Cat Ferguson and Seb Grindley have already gone on to win World Championship medals, and in Cat’s case, a pair of titles.
Our aim with our new model is to protect that legacy, protect the impact the race has on young riders, both on and off the bike, but also look at areas we can improve, and one of these is getting more riders on the start line.
The new model
For 2025, we’ll retain our usual slot on the calendar, which straddles the Easter holidays in schools across Britain, meaning the race will take place on the 12th and 13th April.
The eagle eyed will notice the first change, which is that racing will take place over two days and not three. Clearly that means less racing, with three full stages as opposed to four. One of the unique things about the Youth Tour of Scotland, when compared with similar races, is that it takes place on closed roads, and this element will remain.
Those familiar with the event will know the Forteviot circuit in rural Perthshire, which will play host to a time trial, and a road race on the Saturday. Whilst the final day Kermesse of our old model was an exciting spectacle, safety concerns were increasing with changes to the layout of the roads.
For 2025, the Kermesse will be replaced by a city centre criterium around Perth city centre. We see this as a major coup, retaining the closed roads and technical elements of the Kermesse, but moving the race into a much higher footfall area, which should encourage more spectators and an even better atmosphere.
This high-profile stage will be supported by further youth and senior races, those entry fees helping to reduce costs for those competing in the Youth Tour, but also providing a greatly enhanced experience for both riders and spectators, with wrap around activity hopefully giving the event a festival feel.
The two-day format has also enabled us to tender for the event to become part of the British Youth Circuit Series for the first time, meaning we can provide our unique racing and development experience to Youth B riders in the Open category, who haven’t previously been included.
Being part of the Series means entries will now be on an individual basis, as opposed to via regional teams, but we will be keeping our iconic leaders jerseys.
Next steps
Information has gone out to all regional teams who have previously entered the race, asking them to disseminate this information to clubs and teams in their area. We need your supporting in getting word out about the new format, and the fact riders will now be required to enter on an individual basis.
Previously the race had used Strathallan School as it’s HQ, however this will no longer be the case going forward. To drive value for money, and keep a lid on ever increasing costs, we have removed the residential element of the event, allowing riders, parents and club teams to secure their own accommodation to suit their budgets and requirements. There are a range of options close to the race courses, from chain hotels in Perth to AirBnBs set in the beautiful Perthshire countryside.
We will be working in the background to finalise all logistics over the next two months, with entries opening w/c 20th January 2025.
From everyone at Scottish Cycling, thank you for your ongoing support of this special race, and we look forward to seeing the event take another step forward in 2025.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to get in touch via events@scottishcycling.org.uk
