The Aviva Tour of Britain returns from 6-13 September promising eight stages of thrilling action starting in Anglesey and ending on the streets of London.
Twenty top teams including Team Sky, Etixx-Quickstep and Team Cannondale Garmin will wow British crowds as they vie for the coveted leader’s jersey.
Riders and teams
The stages
Stage one: Sunday 6 September
Beaumaris, Anglesey to Wrexham, 177km
The 2015 edition begins in beautiful Beaumaris overlooking the Menai Strait on Anglesey. The route loops into the centre of the island before heading to the mainland and the epic scenery of Snowdonia, passing the foot of Snowdon at Llanberis and over the top of Llanberis Pass, the first of three categorised climbs.
From here the route heads west through Betws-y-Coed and Llanrwst before crossing the moors to Denbigh before a final run-in through the Clwydian hills to finish in Wrexham.
Stage two: Monday 7 September
Clitheroe to Colne, 162km
More classic British hill country awaits riders on stage two, which begins in Clitheroe before a loop into the stunning Forest of Bowland, culminating with a finish in Colne. On the way riders will tackle three categorised climbs at Nick O’Pendle, Pendle Big End and Bleara Moor.
Stage three: Tuesday 8 September
Cockermouth to Floors Castle, Kelso, 216km
The third stage starts in Cockermouth, birthplace of William Wordsworth. But there’ll be no time for waxing lyrical for the riders with 216 kilometres of racing taking the peloton across the Scottish borders for a hilly finale packing in three second-category climbs before the welcome sight of the finish at the historic Floors Castle near Kelso.
Stage four: Wednesday 9 September
Edinburgh to Blyth, 218km
Another epic stage awaits on the fourth day starting in majestic Edinburgh before heading south through Lothian. The highpoint of the stage comes at Redstone Rigg, topping out at over 400 metres, with two further KoMs at Ford and Alnwick, before a sprint down the Northumberland coast and the finish in Blyth.
Stage five: Thursday 10 September
Prudhoe to Hartside Fell, 171km
The fifth stage begins just north of Newcastle-upon-Tyne before heading west across Hadrian’s Wall country to Carlisle. Here the route turns south before skirting the eastern fringes of the Lake District at Ullswater. The finale sees a sprint in Penrith before a tough hilltop finish on the mighty 583-metre Hartside ascent.
Stage six: Friday 11 September
Stoke-on-Trent to Nottingham, 189km
Stage six sees the race head south for 189 kilometres from Stoke-on-Trent to Nottingham. But the hills keep coming, with the course taking in the Staffordshire fells and the Peak District National Park. Three second category climbs await at Millstone Edge, Beeley Moor and Cromford Hill before the finish in the centre of Nottingham.
Stage seven: Saturday 12 September
Fakenham to Ipswich, 225km
The penultimate stage finally quits the uplands for East Anglia. But what it lacks in elevation gain it makes up for in length, with 225 kilometres of racing beginning in Fakenham and ending in Ipswich.
Despite the area’s famous wide open expanses, race organisers have ensured that the polka-dot jersey contenders have something to race for, with third-category climbs at Hevingham, Barking Tye and Brantham Hill.
Stage eight: Sunday 13 September
London stage presented by TfL, 93km
The grand finale of the 2015 edition will take place in London, with a 93-kilometre street fight on some of the capital’s most iconic streets. Starting and finishing on the elegant Regent Street and taking in Piccadilly Circus, Pall Mall, Trafalgar Square, the Strand and Whitehall before stage and overall honours are decided.
The jerseys
The Aviva Yellow Jersey
Awarded to the rider leading The Tour of Britain overall on general classification.
2014 winner - Dylan van Baarle
The Chain Reaction Cycles Points Jersey
The jersey for the most consistent finisher, Britain's equivalent of the Tour de France's green jersey.
2014 winner - Michal Kwiatkowski
The SKODA King of the Mountains Jersey
The iconic polka-dot jersey awarded to the best climber in the race, with points awarded at each of the race’s king of the mountains points.
2014 winner - Mark McNally
The YodelDirect Sprints Jersey
Awarded to the rider who amasses the most points at the race’s daily intermediate sprint points.
2014 winner – Sebastian Lander
How to follow the racing
- Full details on how to watch on TV, from the roadside and follow online.
- Live reporting from every stage on the British Cycling website.
- Report, reaction and images from every stage on the British Cycling website.
