The Tour of Britain will be staged in Sussex for the first time in the race’s modern history this September
Sussex cycling has been handed a boost with the announcement that Stage Seven of The Tour of Britain will be staged throughout West and East Sussex.
The eight-day event, which is the UK’s biggest professional cycle race, will feature some of the world’s top riders and is set to kick off on Sunday 7th September in Liverpool.
Following six days of competitive racing, the riders will arrive in Sussex on the Saturday, taking on the famous climb of Ditchling Beacon before heading to the finish on Brighton’s Marine Drive
The stage finish comes 24 years since the last time a Tour of Britain came to Brighton and Race Director, Mick Bennett, is excited to incorporate our picturesque county.
“We are delighted to be bringing The Tour of Britain to Sussex and Brighton for the first time in the race’s modern history,” he says. “While the finish in Brighton is definitely one for the sprinters, the South Downs and Ditchling Beacon in the closing kilometres will pose a real challenge to them and set up what I am sure will be a fantastic finish on the seafront.”
The race will see riders passing through East Sussex towns including Uckfield, Eastbourne and Newhaven and will also take them through West Sussex, with the likes of Horsham and Haywards Heath also on the race map.
“I am delighted that we will welcome The Tour of Britain through West Sussex this September,” says the Leader of West Sussex County Council, Louise Goldsmith.
“It will be a great opportunity to showcase our beautiful county as a destination for cyclists and I am sure the event will also act as a tremendous boost to the local economy.”
The Sussex stage of the race will be the penultimate day for riders, with the tour finishing a day later with a double-header final day in central London, featuring an individual time trial and circuit race finishing on Whitehall.
Coming just over 20 years after the Tour de France’s finish in our seaside city, cyclist and lead councillor for transport at Brighton and Hove City Council, Ian Davey, is hopeful it will encourage a continued growth in appreciation for cycling across the city.
“It’s so apt that a stage of the race should finish in a city which has seen an explosion of cycling in recent years,” explains Davey. “As a city we’re really improving cycling facilities so now I’m hopeful The Tour of Britain will inspire even more people to take up cycling for fitness, recreation and transport.”
For more information on The Tour of Britain please visit the website www.thetour.co.uk or to talk to a member of staff call 0870 112 8650.