Cycling fans get ready as OVO Energy’s Tour of Britain comes to Bristol next week! Starting this coming Sunday 2nd September, the tour will begin in the Pembrey Country Park in Wales and make its way across eight gruelling stages before it’s grand finale in London a week later on Sunday 9th.
The tour will be made up of 120 riders split into twenty teams of six and will include the likes of reigning Tour de France winner Geraint Thomas and our very own champion Chris Frome. Eight days, eight challenging rides (including an uphill team time trial for stage 5), one heck of a competition – and they’ll be here in Bristol for stage 3 next Tuesday!
Hosting the event for the third time, Bristol has a loop of 125km set for the riders which will see them head out into North Somerset over the Suspension Bridge towards Clevedon, down through Congresbury and the Mendip Hills (including an ascent of Cheddar Gorge along the way), over towards Midsomer Norton and then make its way back to the city via Chew Magna and Long Ashton before finishing on Ladies Mile up on the Downs.
Each of the eight stages will take place as follows:
Stage 1: Pembrey Country Park to Newport, 175km
Stage 2: Cranbrook to Barnstaple, 174km
Stage 3: BRISTOL! 125km
Stage 4: Nuneaton to Royal Leamington Spa, 183km
Stage 5: Cockermouth to Whinlatter Pass Team Time Trial, 14km (don’t let the distance fool you though as this one could create a huge shake up in the leader board)
Stage 6: Barrow-in-Furness to Whinlatter Pass, 169km
Stage 7: West Bridgford to Mansfield, 223km
Stage 8: The London Stage, 77km (fourteen laps of central London in a final sprint to take the winning spot)
For full details about the event and goings on for the Bristol stage next week click here and make sure you all get to the Downs to cheer them all on!