Individual time trial returns to The Tour of Britain route
2011 Tour of Britain route revealed, starting in Peebles and featuring an individual time trial in central London
The 2011 Tour of Britain will feature an individual time trial for the first time in six years, SweetSpot Group, the organisers of The Tour of Britain announced in London today.
A 10 kilometre test against the clock will feature on the final morning of The Tour of Britain in central London as a part of The TfL London Stage, which will be run as a split-stage in 2011, with the race's traditional closing circuit race taking place in the afternoon. Both stages will start and finish on Whitehall.
The battle for the newly announced IG Markets Gold Jersey will begin in the Scottish Borders at Peebles for the opening 170 kilometre stage to Dumfries on Sunday 11th September. Day Two of The Tour of Britain sees the race return to Kendal in the Lake District for the first time since 2007 for, what is likely to be a sprinters stage, to Blackpool.
Stage Three of The Tour of Britain will take place in and around Stoke-on-Trent, starting at Trentham Gardens and featuring the same uphill finish into the city centre as the previous three editions of Britain's biggest professional cycle race.
The hilly Staffordshire Moorlands stage is followed by two tough days of racing, the first in Wales, from Welshpool to Caerphilly, featuring the Brecon Beacons and Caerphilly Mountain within the final few kilometres of racing, with the second being The Tour's first stage to be held entirely within Devon. Stage Five will see riders racing across Dartmoor, including the climb of Haytor, from Exeter to a seaside finish in Exmouth.
A second South West stage sees The Tour of Britain returning to Somerset for a 145 kilometre stage from Taunton to Wells, featuring the climb of Cheddar Gorge and a finishing circuit through Shepton Mallet, allowing spectators the opportunity to see the race twice.
Stage Seven sees The Tour of Britain visit East Anglia for the second successive year, for the longest stage of the race, starting at Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk and finishing at Sandringham in Norfolk.
The Transport for London Stage becomes a split-stage in 2011, with riders testing themselves against the clock in the morning, in a stage which is likely to decide the final destination of the IG Markets Gold Jersey, before the traditional circuit race in the afternoon. In between the stages will be chance for amateur cyclists to experience the iconic central London route in The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Ride London and a new-for-2011 event, the IG Markets Hot Lap, a unique corporate charity fundraising amateur time trial that will take place immediately after the professional ride against the clock.
"We are very excited about the route for the 2011 Tour of Britain, particularly with the inclusion of the final day time trial in the very heart of London," said Mick Bennett, Tour of Britain Race Director.
"Anyone who remembers the crowds who flocked to see the Tour de France Prologue in 2007 will know what to expect and look forward to this September. After the success of the 2010 Tour of Britain we are pleased to unveil another tough and demanding route that visits England, Scotland and Wales, making it a true Tour of Britain."
The full list of stages is as follows:
Sunday 11th September Stage One Peebles to Dumfries
Monday 12th September Stage Two Kendal to Blackpool
Tuesday 13th September Stage Three The Stoke-on-Trent Stage
Wednesday 14th September Stage Four Welshpool to Caerphilly
Thursday 15th September Stage Five Exeter to Exmouth
Friday 16th September Stage Six Taunton to Wells
Saturday 17th September Stage Seven Bury St Edmunds to Sandringham
Sunday 18th September Stage Eight a The TfL Stage, Individual Time Trial
Stage Eight b The TfL Stage, Circuit Race
The launch also saw the official unveiling of The Tour of Britain two new leader's jerseys. Hugh Roberts, Chief Executive of SweetSpot Group revealed the green Yodel Sprints Jersey, which will be awarded to the leading rider in the Yodel Sprints classification, while Tim Howkins, Chief Executive of IG Group unveiled the new IG Markets Gold Jersey, which will be awarded to The Tour's overall leader.
"This year's Tour of Britain launch is the perfect occasion to officially unveil the designs of both the IG Markets Gold Jersey and the Yodel Sprints Jersey," said Hugh Roberts, Chief Executive of SweetSpot Group.
"We would like to welcome both partners to Britain's biggest professional cycle race and look forward to seeing those two iconic jerseys joining The Prostate Cancer Charity Points jersey and leading the way in The Tour of Britain."
SweetSpot Group have also announced the identities of the 16 professional teams who will take part in The Tour of Britain, a list which is headed by the UCI ProTeams of Sky, including Bradley Wiggins, and Team HTC Highroad, while Leopard Trek are due to make their Tour of Britain debut.
Home interest will be provided by the five British UCI Continental teams, Endura Racing, Motorpoint, Rapha Condor Sharp, Sigma Sport - Specialized and Team Raleigh, all of whom will be hoping to become the first British pro team to win a stage of The Tour of Britain.
Following the success of The Prostate Cancer Charity Tour Rides that have accompanied The Tour of Britain, giving amateur cyclists the chance to challenge themselves of the route of a Tour stage, three new Tour Rides are added to the existing events in London and Stoke-on-Trent. Cyclists will also have the opportunity to ride the Scottish, Welsh and East Anglian stages of Britain's national Tour, commencing with the East Anglian ride on Sunday 24th July.
The Tour of Britain is proud to be partnered with The Prostate Cancer Charity. Don't forget this summer your chance to follow in the wheel tracks of the professionals and ride stages from The Tour of Britain. Go to www.tourride.co.uk to find out more!
The IG Markets Gold Jersey to lead the way at The Tour of Britain
Spectators at Britain's biggest free-to-watch live sporting event will be seeing Gold at the front of the peloton in 2011
September 2011 will see 96 of the world's top professional cyclists from 16 of the leading teams taking to the start line of The Tour of Britain. Set over eight stages ranging from the wilds of West Scotland to the streets of central London, the leading overall rider will be pulling on the IG Markets Gold Jersey in recognition of their achievements. IG Markets is a leading provider of Contracts for Difference and part of the IG Group.
"We are delighted to be associated with The Tour of Britain and proud to say that as the UK's No.1 CFD Provider we will be sponsoring the IG Markets Gold Jersey," commented Tim Howkins, Chief Executive of IG Group.
"The Tour of Britain presents an excellent platform for IG Markets as it is broadcast in many of our key territories worldwide, so the iconic new IG Markets Gold Jersey will be seen worldwide by millions of spectators.
"The partnership between us and Britain's leading cycle race underlines the growing popularity of cycling in Britain, both in terms of participation and media interest. We look forward to being a part of this growth through our commitment to The Tour of Britain, which will allow us to engage with cycling fans, our clients and our prospects in a unique and very personal way."
"We are naturally very excited to be working in partnership with a world-leading company such as IG Markets and this major announcement is great news for the race. IG Markets sponsorship of The Tour illustrates the worldwide reach and reputation of the event, ahead of what we are sure will be the best edition of the race yet" said Alastair Grant, Commercial Manager of SweetSpot Group, organisers of the Tour of Britain.
"The 2011 Tour will be the last major cycling event in Britain before the London Olympics and will give British fans a chance to see the best professional riders in the world competing on our roads. We look forward greatly to working in partnership with IG Markets and of course to seeing the eye-catching IG Markets Gold jersey leading The Tour of Britain peloton this year."
The Tour of Britain is proud to be partnered with The Prostate Cancer Charity. Don't forget this summer your chance to follow in the wheel tracks of the professionals and ride stages from The Tour of Britain. Go to www.tourride.co.uk to find out more!
IG Markets will become Official Partners of both The Tour of Britain and The Halfords Tour Series, Britain's unique televised team based city centre criterium series.