16 Jun 2010

Stage Routes Announced for the Tour of Britain

The Tour of Britain is gearing up for another two-day spectacle of world-class cycle racing in Devon and Somerset.

Devon and Somerset County Councils today announced that they will host another two stages of The Tour, taking in both counties on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 September.

Building on the successful partnership between the two local authorities, the two stages of Britain’s premier cycle race will cover around 216 miles (347kms) of Devon and Somerset. The Tour of Britain 2010 takes place over eight days, from Saturday 11 September to Saturday 18 September.

Set against the backdrop of the region’s stunning landscape, the demanding South West stages are expected to prove to be a crucial couple of days, providing another stern challenge for some of the world’s best cyclists.

Stage 4 of The Tour of Britain will start at West Somerset Railway Station, Minehead and will finish 107 miles (171kms) away in the South Devon seaside resort of Teignmouth. This will be the first time The Tour has held a coast-to-coast stage.

Stage 5 is another 109 miles (176 kms) and starts in the West Devon market town of Tavistock. The race will then cross Dartmoor National Park before heading back over the Blackdown Hills to Somerset, and finishing in Glastonbury.

Last year’s two South West stages saw almost a quarter of a million people turning out along the routes to see the racing, generating almost £6 million for the economies of Somerset and Devon. The winners of the two Stages in the South West last year were British rider, Ben Swift, and Norwegian, Edvald Boasson Hagen, both now riding for Team Sky. Boasson Hagen also went on to claim the overall Yellow Jersey for The Tour of Britain 2009.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said: “We’re proud to be co-hosting another two stages of The Tour of Britain this year and we’re delighted that we can continue to work closely with Somerset County Council to build on our success of recent years. Last year’s Tour was outstanding, with record crowds turning out to see the action.”

He added: “People in Devon and Somerset have really embraced The Tour – the crowds provided a special atmosphere last time round and this is a perfect chance for them to show their support again. It’s also an opportunity for visitors to see what an ideal destination our two counties are for cycling, which is great for our economy, and I’m sure this year’s stages will provide another memorable occasion for spectators and a tough test for the riders.”

Graham Bagley, Somerset County Council’s Tour of Britain Project Manager, said: “This is the fourth time that The Tour of Britain has come to Somerset and with each year, support and enthusiasm for the race has grown. The two South West stages are likely to prove a tough challenge for this year’s cyclists and will provide a great sight for spectators.”

He added: “Last year, lots of towns and villages along the race routes celebrated by holding their own community events which created a great atmosphere in the build up to the race passing through – we hope that even more local communities will be inspired to do a similar thing this year.”

Hugh Roberts, CEO for The Tour of Britain, said: “The two Devon and Somerset stages of the 2009 race were a great success, thanks to the large crowds and the vast number of school children that attended the stages. This also goes to shows that cycling as a sport is growing exponentially in its national popularity. We at The Tour of Britain, together with our partners at Somerset County Council and Devon County Council, are extremely pleased to be a key part of this process. The feedback from riders who took part in the 2009 event has been overwhelmingly positive, and our aim for the 2010 event is to put on another spectacular show for the crowds.”

The two County Councils are also continuing their support of the South West Bike Academy – Team Qoroz, to encourage children to take up cycling. The team riders and manager, David Walters, are aiming to talk to around 20,000 school pupils in Devon and Somerset throughout this year to help promote the sport.

For more information on The Tour of Britain, visit: www.tourofbritain.co.uk.