Tour of Britain Racing to Stoke-on-Trent

Thursday, 10th July 2008

Event Press Release (www.tourofbritain.co.uk)

Organisers unveil challenging Tour of Britain stage, culminating in Stoke-on-Trent finish

The organisers of The Tour of Britain have unveiled details of Stage Four of this September’s Tour of Britain, which will culminate in an exciting finish in front of the Town Hall in Hanley on Wednesday 10th September. It will be the first time since the early 1990s that a stage of the UK’s national tour has finished in Stoke-on-Trent, which was recently named as one of Cycling England’s ‘Cycling Towns’.

Pupils at Burnwood Community School in Chell Heath launched the stage, with help from Lord Mayor Derek Capey and former Milk Race winner Les West. Pinarello RT professionals Russell Downing and Malcolm Elliott, recent winner of the Circuit de Stone Criterium, and himself a former Milk Race winner, were on hand to see the unveiling of the route, and they’ll be just two members of the world-class field of 96 professional cyclists, who’ll be heading to Stoke-on-Trent come September.

After thanking the pupils and encouraging them to come along on the 10th September, Lord Mayor Derek Capey commented: “What having The Tour of Britain coming to Stoke-on-Trent means to us, is a continuation of our commitment to cycling and a determination to promote a healthy lifestyle, based around activities like walking and cycling.

It has been great today to see the children from Burnwood Community School taking part in cycling activities and enjoying themselves as part of the launch. Hopefully having the stage finish and all the activities we’ve got planned around that will encourage many more young people to take up cycling.” Once again the race will depart from Worcester Racecourse, on the banks of the River Severn, which so successfully staged the start of last year’s West Midlands stage.

20070912_ToB_Stage3_22

2007 and the Tour of Britain leaves Worcestor.

The fourth 156.5km (97mile) stage of this year’s race will head north up the Severn Valley via Bewdley towards Wolverhampton, scene of an exciting finish to last year’s third stage. Outside Bewdley, the riders will face the first of the three E.ON King of the Mountains climbs on the stage, at High Habberley. It’s then onwards to Wolverhampton, where the first Hot Spot Sprint of the day will take place outside Wolverhampton Grammar School.

From Wolverhampton, the riders will swing west to Ironbridge and Coalport Bank through the second Hot Spot Sprint at Bedlam. Two E.ON King of the Mountains climbs follow in quick succession at Jiggers Bank and the Saddle of the Wrekin, where the best climbers of The Tour of Britain will do battle for the right to wear the E.ON King of the Mountains jersey.

The two climbs are sure to shape the nature of the days stage, making them great locations for spectators to watch The Tour of Britain come past. Any rider with aspirations of winning in Stoke is going to have to make it over the two ascents in good condition. The race will then cross the A5 at Wellington on its way to Newport, Eccleshall and the Sow Valley, one of the most picturesque areas of Staffordshire.

The people of Stone are sure to turn out for the Tour of Britain after the way they welcomed the Elite Circuit Series recently.

The final Hot Spot Sprint of the day comes in Stone, where riders will be batting for points towards the Sprints Jersey, before the race climbs up towards Rough Close, descending through Barlaston as the race gear up for an exciting finish in Hanley. After the short, steep climb up from Joiners Square, riders will swoop down Potteries Way, before battling it out up Broad Street to the finish line on Albion Street, where the gently rising nature of the road is sure to make for a thrilling dash to the line.

Commenting on the stage, Tour of Britain Route Director Graham Jones said “This will be another tough stage for the riders. The first half of the stage is over rolling roads, familiar to us from Stage Three of last years race. Then we get to the two E.ON King of the Mountains climbs at Jiggers Bank and the Saddle of the Wrekin, which will be the key moment of the stage. It’s also great to be bringing The Tour of Britain to Stoke-on-Trent, and we’ve got a great finishing location in the centre of Hanley, which will make for an exciting, uphill sprint to the line, which could suit someone like Roger Hammond.”

Stage Map (3Mb download): ToB Stage 4

TOUR OF BRITAIN STAGES

7 September  Stage 1   London Circuit
8 September  Stage 2   Milton Keynes to Newbury
9 September  Stage 3   Chard to Burnham-on-Sea
10 September  Stage 4   Worcester to Stoke-on-Trent
11 September  Stage 5   Hull to Dalby Forest
12 September  Stage 6   Darlington to NewcastleGateshead
13 September  Stage 7   Glasgow Green to Dumfries & Galloway
14 September  Stage 8   Blackpool to Liverpool