Britain’s biggest cycle race to be supported by
five mass participation Tour Rides in 2012
Cyclists from across Britain can once again take on the challenge of The Tour of Britain, the UK’s biggest cycle race, through five Tour Ride mass participation events.
From The Tour’s longest stage in East Anglia, which will decide the destination of the first IG Markets Gold Jersey of 2012, to the challenging ŠKODA King of the Mountains climbs of Caerphilly Mountain in Wales and Gun Hill in the Staffordshire Moorlands, amateur cyclists will be able to experience them
all in a Tour Ride.
Rides will take place on Tour of Britain stage routes in East Anglia, Wales, Scotland and Stoke-on-
Trent from July onwards, with registrations now open.
The Tour of Britain’s opening stage from Ipswich to the Norfolk Showground will be the venue for the
first Tour Ride of 2012 on Sunday 22nd July, giving amateur cyclists the chance to experience the full
200 kilometre route of Stage One of Britain’s biggest professional cycle race.
Wales and Scotland both host Tour Rides during August, with each route a circular ride taking in the
best of each country’s Tour of Britain stage.
The challenge of Caerphilly Mountain headlines The Tour Ride Wales, which starts and finishes
outside Caerphilly Castle on Sunday 12th August, while Dumfries will host The Tour Ride Scotland on
Sunday 26th August, which focuses on the Dumfries & Galloway roads that will be decisive in Stage
Three of The Tour of Britain.
Two Tour Rides take place in September, with The Stoke-on-Trent Ride continuing in its traditional
date of the first Sunday following The Tour of Britain (Sunday 23rd September). The most popular of
The Tour Rides, the Stoke-on-Trent event has attracted 2,000 cyclists in each of the past two years.
As a part of the ‘Summer of Cycling’, the fifth and final Tour Ride of 2012 will take place at the Cycle
Show at Birmingham’s NEC on Sunday 30th September.
As a part of the partnership with the Cycle Show organisers, riders signing up for any of the 2012
Tour Rides will receive 50% off entry into the Cycle Show, while all those registering for The Tour
Ride Cycle Show Sportive will also receive a voucher for a 50% discount on car parking at the NEC in
their rider pack.
Cyclists will have the choice of a full distance Pro Ride on every route, plus a shorter half-distance
Challenge Ride to keep the events accessible to all ages and abilities of cyclist. Details of shorter
Family Ride, which return in 2012, in both Scotland and East Anglia, will be announced soon.
With registrations open, the first 100 riders signing up to each Tour Ride will receive a code to redeem
for a free OneLife Active iD lifestyle wristband, while all other registrants will receive a discount code
entitling them to a discount on the innovative interactive sports identity and emergency wristband.
Entrants into every Tour Ride will receive the full professional experience, from full neutral service
support from Tour of Britain Official Partners Specialized to enjoying the benefits of National Escort
Group motorcycle outriders along each route.
The Tour Rides will continue to build their reputation for feed stations fully stocked with high-quality
products, led by The Tour’s new Official Nutrition Supplier Maxifuel, who will be providing nutritional
advice and support to participants, while Official Suppliers Highland Spring and Soreen will continue
to supply their popular products to all riders.
For more details, and to register for a Tour Ride,
please visit www.tourride.co.uk More information,
including detailed route maps will be added soon.
