Cycling News

Tour of Britain to pass major London landmarks

The route of the 2006 Tour of Britain was launched today at a posh launch at Lancaster House in London. The race's final day - sponsored by Transport for London - uses part of the London route that will be followed by the Tour de France in 2007. And cycle-sport fans in Canterbury have never had it so good!

The race finale takes place on Sunday 3rd September and will trial parts of both the 2007 Tour de France Grand Départ route and a proposed Olympic cycling route.

The final stage of the race, which at 80 kilometres will be the longest stage of a cycling race to ever hit London's streets, is sponsored by Transport for London as part of its work to encourage more people to cycle in the capital. In the past five years the number of cycle journeys on London's major roads have doubled.

The route of the final stage travels from Greenwich Park, over Tower Bridge and into the City, following part of the Tour de France 2007 route and passing some of London's most historic landmarks. The race will also follow a proposed 2012 Olympic cycling route up and over Hampstead Heath then down to Regent's Park, through Hyde Park on to the Tour de France Prologue route and finally in to St James's Park for 20 laps of the park's perimeter to the finish.

This year for the first time TfL will be holding its annual BikeFest cycling event at the Tour of Britain. BikeFest will be held along the Tour of Britain finishing straight.

The day will also include a stage of the World Handcycling Championships featuring a line-up of 60 international para-Olympians, a Women's Grand Prix race, a junior race and the annual amateur elite London Grand Prix for the Bob Chicken Trophy.

Peter Hendy, Commissioner of Transport for London, said:

"London has never seen a cycle race of this scale. This is the third time the Tour of Britain has finished in the capital and this year's race promises to be bigger and better than ever. The final stage of the race will be a great rehearsal for the 2007 Tour de France and the 2012 Olympics cycling race, and will showcase what cycling has to offer our great city.

"Cycling as a way of getting around is booming in London. The Tour of Britain will help build on that excitement and encourage even more people to take to two wheels."

The 2006 Tour of Britain will consist of six stages starting on Tuesday 29th August in Glasgow. The Tour then takes in new routes in the Northwest, Yorkshire and the West Midlands, before a brand new fifth stage in the Southeast ending in Canterbury, the finish city of the first stage of the 2007 Tour De France.


Stage 1 – Scotland, Glasgow to Castle Douglas
Stage 2 – Northwest, Blackpool to Liverpool
Stage 3 – Yorkshire, (final route to be confirmed)
Stage 4 – West Midlands, (final route to be confirmed)
Stage 5 – Southeast, Rochester to Canterbury
Stage 6 – London, Greenwich to The Mall

http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk

Published Monday 15 May 2006