South Yorkshire route confirmed for Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men
Sheffield will kick off stage three of the Tour on September 5th.
A challenging route through the four regions of South Yorkshire has today been unveiled to mark Yorkshire Day (Thursday 1 August), as the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men prepares to return to the region for the first time since 2007, this September.
Stage three of the 20th edition of Britain’s biggest professional cycle race on Thursday 5 September will head from Sheffield to Barnsley, via Rotherham and Doncaster, taking in some of South Yorkshire’s most famous, and hardest climbs, to provide a real test for the world’s top riders.
The 166-kilometre (103-mile) stage will start from Arundel Gate in Sheffield city centre, marking the first time that the race has been to the city since 2006, with the uphill finish coming on County Way in Barnsley, the first time that the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men has visited the town.
Over 2,700 metres of ascent will face the riders, including categorised King of the Mountains climbs at Loxley (Long Lane), Oughtibridge (Jawbone Hill), and Hound Hill on the outskirts of Barnsley, the summit of which comes with just four kilometres of racing remaining, and is sure to be key to the stage victory.
Rod Ellingworth, Race Director for Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men said:
"For the return of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men to South Yorkshire we wanted to create a memorable and tough stage, and we are sure that with the route chosen we have done just that.
"There is a lot of climbing early on in the stage as we skirt the edge of the Pennines, and then what should be a really exciting finale, with the climb of Hound Hill and the drag up to the finish in Barnsley town centre combining for a tough end to the day's racing.
"Our thanks go to the South Yorkshire Mayoral Combined Authority, and our partners in Sheffield, Rotherham, Doncaster, and Barnsley, for making the stage possible and enabling us to bring the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men through so their communities, many of which will be seeing the race live for the first time and we are sure will lend their full support to the riders."
Councillor Martin Smith, Chair of the Economic Development and Skills Committee at Sheffield City Council, said:
“Sheffield is known as the Outdoor City. We pride ourselves on our green space and the wealth of outdoor activities we have on offer, including our vast cycling trails.
“That is why it is great news that the third stage of the Tour of Britain Men will start here in Sheffield. We look forward to welcoming all those taking part, as well as cycling enthusiasts from across the region who will be spectating, to the city this September.”
From the start in Sheffield, the climbing will start almost immediately, as the race heads west, skirting the Peak District National Park with the first categorised King of the Mountains climb coming on Long Lane above Loxley within 20 kilometres of racing.
The one kilometre climb averages almost 9%, with only a short descent before the race tackles the second King of the Mountains at Oughtibridge Lane, or Jawbone Hill, a 1.7-kilometre climb averaging 9%, which was climbed by the Tour de France in 2014.
The stage then settles down passing through Chapeltown, Wath upon Dearne, Swinton, and Maltby to arrive at the sole intermediate sprint in the market town of Tickhill after 70 kilometres of racing.
The route skirts Doncaster via Conisbrough and Denaby to then loop around the north of Barnsley through Royston and Darton. From Penistone a series of short climbs culminates in Hound Hill, a 1.5-kilometre ascent to Worsbrough Common, averaging nearly 7% and topping out with exactly four kilometres to go.
While the Hound Hill climb is likely to prove crucial to the victory in South Yorkshire, a final challenge for riders is the last 800 metres of the stage, which drags up along Old Mill Lane and into County Way to the finish line at around a 7% incline.
Oliver Coppard, South Yorkshire’s Mayor said:
“I know that South Yorkshire will be out in force to cheer on the riders in the Tour of Britain on the 5th September.
“We’re a place that loves a bike race, and I know that thousands of people will be on the streets cheering them on across South Yorkshire, showing the whole world what we’re about.
“The route through our communities, which I am told is one of the toughest of the whole tour, will visit Barnsley for the first time and return to Sheffield for the first time since 2006.
“The South Yorkshire leg will pass through all four of our towns and cities, taking in some of our most beautiful landscapes and hardest climbs.
“The Tour of Britain coming to South Yorkshire is another sign of confidence in our ability to do big, exciting things, and I can't wait for us to be part of it.”
Since the last visit to South Yorkshire by the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, the area has famously hosted a stage finish of the Tour de France (2014), as well as four stages of the Tour de Yorkshire (two starts and two finishes) between 2016 and 2019.
More details of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, including the detailed stage timings and competing teams will be announced in the coming weeks.