Local cycling fans will be thrilled to hear that the Tour of Britain is coming to Gloucestershire this September 2022.
The county will be hosting a full day of the prestigious event, with the sixth stage of the eight-day race taking place on Friday 9 September 2022.
While Gloucestershire has hosted parts of the race before – when the tour passed through on the way from Worcester to Bristol in 2014; visited Cinderford, Gloucester, Stroud and Dursley in 2016; and when sprinter Dylan Goenewegen won on the penultimate day of the race in Cheltenham in 2017 – this year will be the first time the county has hosted a full day of racing.
The spectacular event is free to watch by the roadside, with locals and cycling fans expected to turn out in force to cheer on over 100 of the world’s best cyclists as they make their way through the county.
Councillor Mark Hawthorne, leader of Gloucestershire County Council, said: ‘I am delighted that we have been able to secure stage six of the Tour of Britain for Gloucestershire. Events such as the tour are key to helping our economy thrive and showcase, to a significant international audience, all that Gloucestershire has to offer.’
Mick Bennett, Tour of Britain race director, added: ‘Announcing the locations of the Tour of Britain stages is always a day I look forward to greatly, as I know how much people want to watch the race from their own doorsteps!
‘The 2022 race is shaping up to be another unforgettable edition of the race, particularly since we’re mixing familiar regions with new areas, places we’ve never fully explored and those we’ve been unable to visit for many years. Hopefully today’s announcement whets the appetite while we finalise the routes of the eight stages – rest assured we’ve got some more surprises to come!’
Last year’s tour pulled crowds of over a million spectators across the country and generated nearly £30 million for the UK economy, with Belgian rider Wout van Aert winning the star-studded race.
Flag-to-flag coverage of this year’s tour is being broadcast live on ITV4, with a nightly highlights show, too.
The full route for Gloucestershire’s leg of the Tour of Britain is due to be revealed soon.
