The route for top cycling race the Tour of Britain has been announced – and it will return to North Yorkshire for the first time in 13 years.
Stage four of the race – on Wednesday, 7 September this year – takes the world’s best riders from Redcar to Duncombe Park in Helmsley.
Tour organisers say: “Popular seaside towns such as Saltburn-by-the-Sea and Whitby will be raced through before the route heads into the North York Moors National Park.
“The unforgiving final 30 kilometres of this 150 kilometre stage feature the climbs of Carlton Bank (2km long, 9.8% average gradient) and Newgate Bank (2km long, 6% average gradient) before descending into the finish at Duncombe Park, one of Yorkshire’s finest historic houses and estates.”
The 18th edition of the modern Tour will begin on September 4 with a 185 kilometre stage from Aberdeen to the Glenshee Ski Centre in the Cairngorms National Park.
And a week later it will be the turn of the Isle of Wight’s Military Road, as the 2022 champion will be crowned at the top of the two kilometre climb up to Tennyson Down at the end of a 150km stage from Ryde.
The tour was last in Yorkshire in 2009. Redcar had been due to host the opening stage of the 2020 Tour de Yorkshire, but the race has been cancelled for three straight years amid the Covid-19 pandemic, and faces a deeply uncertain future with Welcome To Yorkshire now in administration.
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“As promised when we unveiled the Tour of Britain’s host regions in February, this year’s race features a number of surprises, none more so than hill-top finishes to start and end the eight days of world-class competition,” race director Mick Bennett said.
“Creating a route that encourages aggressive racing and brave tactics from day one will enhance the reputation of the race, leave the one million plus spectators watching on in person for free with long-lasting memories, showcase the stunning beauty of our host venues, and repeatedly entertain a worldwide audience.”