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Scotland to host Tour of Britain Grand Depart

Posted: 26 January 2011
Images by: The Tour of Britain

Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway gear up to host The Tour of Britain this September

Scotland is gearing up to host the Grand Depart of The Tour of Britain this September with preparations for Sunday 11th September already well underway.

The eighth edition of Britain's national Tour, and the final one to take place before the 2012 Olympic Games, will see the race return to Scotland, with the first stage taking place between the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway.

"We are very happy to be returning to Scotland in 2011 and look forward to a warm welcome once again this September", said Hugh Roberts, Chief Executive of SweetSpot Group, organisers and promoters of The Tour of Britain.

"Preparations for the Grand Depart are well underway and progressing very smoothly, and we, along with our partners at EventScotland, Scottish Borders Council and Dumfries and Galloway Council, have a busy eight months ahead as we make all the preparations to ensure that Sunday 11th September is an unforgettable day for cycling in Scotland."

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Office for EventScotland agreed saying, "Scotland is ready to welcome The Tour of Britain back over the border in September. There is a real buzz in the country at present around cycling after Scotland's success in Delhi and ahead of London 2012 and the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow in 2014. It is great to have such an exciting and successful event on our doorstep for the wider community to support and get involved with."

Full details of the route the stage will take will be unveiled in the Spring, but the Scottish Borders has been confirmed as hosting the start of the opening stage. This will be the second occasion that the area has welcomed The Tour of Britain, following Peebles holding the start of Stage Three of the 2009 Tour.

Vicky Davidson, Scottish Borders Council's Executive Member for Economic Development said: "Following the success of The Tour of Britain in 2009 I am delighted that it is returning to the Scottish Borders this year. It is a reflection of the quality of the area as a cycling destination. The addition of The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Ride, the week before The Tour's Grand Depart, is a great opportunity for cyclists and fans to arrive early and try out the excellent routes available here.

"Both of these events will have a significant economic impact on the area and we will be working closely with The Tour, EventScotland and business to ensure that opportunities to generate more spend in the local economy are maximised. Already we are looking at ways of linking the fantastic cycling sportives that are already happening in the Scottish Borders to The Tour. And once the route is finalised, officers from the Council's Economic Development Team will brief businesses on The Tour and discuss their ideas for ensuring that visitors have an experience they will always remember."

Dumfries and Galloway has been involved with The Tour of Britain since 2005, hosting both stage starts and finishes in recent years, the most recent in 2009 when Edvald Boasson Hagen took the win at Gretna Green on his way to overall victory in The Tour.

Councillor Ian Carruthers, Dumfries and Galloway Council's Events Champion said, "The arrival of The Tour of Britain in our beautiful region this September will be a great fillip to the many cycling fans locally who are proud of our strong links with The Tour of Britain. The Council will be pulling out all the stops to make the Scottish Stage Finish a memorable occasion once more, for spectators and competitors alike."

After beginning in Scotland The Tour of Britain will visit England and Wales over the following seven days, finishing in London on Sunday 18th September. Full details of each of the stages will be announced at the National launch in the Spring.

Further details of The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Ride Scotland will be announced shortly. In the meantime riders can register their interest in taking part by visiting www.tourride.co.uk