Tour of Britain 2011

RideOnTime
RideOnTime Posts: 4,712
edited February 2011 in Pro race
It now seems to be official that the Tour of Britain will touch the lowlands of Scotland for a stage this year... but what other rumours / knowledge of the other stages. Is it visting the Midlands again? Who pays for the policing? Is that a factor in the route?

Some Councils most be reluctant sponsors with resources squeezed.

Comments

  • I can't believe that it doesn't come to (insert town name here). You can hardly call this a Tour of Britain because it doesn't come anywhere near (insert county name here). I'll certainly not be watching it.

    Thought I'd get in first with a generic Tour of Britain criticism post before everyone else does. :lol:
  • RichN95.
    RichN95. Posts: 27,253
    They should have a stage on the Isle of Man. And another one that starts and finishes in Cardiff, preferably on a Friday.
    Twitter: @RichN95
  • Isle of Man stage is a good shout i am sure they would be willing to fund it over there and they have have big crowds with potentially 4 or 5 local riders in the race.
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,549
    What about the logistics of getting an entire race caravan to and from the island?
  • RideOnTime
    RideOnTime Posts: 4,712
    No offence to the Scots but Dunfries and Galloway is not going to reach the cycling masses. There has to be a balance of scenery, hills and people! :shock:
  • Tusher
    Tusher Posts: 2,762
    And why can't they hold the entire race in Scotland anyway? Where does it state that they have to put a wheel down south?
  • andyp
    andyp Posts: 10,549
    It's a commercial event. Scottish population, approx 5 million. English population, approx 50 million. You do the maths.
  • Tusher
    Tusher Posts: 2,762
    Ah, but it's the quality of the 5 million that counts.
    Anyway, tourists are nothing new here- why can't they come north to see the race. :)
  • cougie
    cougie Posts: 22,512
    No they shouldn't go up scotland - what if the race is on when I'm on my holidays up there ??

    Don't they usually tie down some of the finishes a few years in advance ? Liverpool was announced for the finale 2 or 3 years ahead ?
  • pomtarr
    pomtarr Posts: 318
    http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/_ns_news/default.asp?news_id=145
    After beginning in Scotland The Tour of Britain will visit England and Wales over the following seven days, finishing in London on Sunday 18th September. Full details of each of the stages will be announced at the National launch in the Spring.
    :wink:
    "Difficult, difficult, lemon difficult"
  • RideOnTime
    RideOnTime Posts: 4,712
    Inevitably finishing in London. London London London. Olympics, Wembley, the whole lot and all the Olympic cycling will be in the Velodrome in Stratford. I think the visit to Scotland is questionable but they could really acknowledge the provinces if they didn't finish in London. :cry:
  • Just wondering, does the ToB get much TV coverage outside of the UK?

    I know we get to see Tours of Poland, Turkey, and various other one-weekers during the season, so I wonder if people in continental Europe and futher afield are aware of it.
  • I'm not sure that visiting Scotland would be such a good idea. Surely a race like the TOB would need proper road closures, and as I recall the 'God-fearing' nimbys up there tend to respond to such things by spreading car-boot fulls of carpet tacks all over the roads. :evil:
  • FJS
    FJS Posts: 4,820
    Just wondering, does the ToB get much TV coverage outside of the UK?

    I know we get to see Tours of Poland, Turkey, and various other one-weekers during the season, so I wonder if people in continental Europe and futher afield are aware of it.

    No TV coverage. Some small-column reports in sports paper/webnews sections. The Tour of Poland is Protour, ToB only 2.1. I remember the Milk Race getting much more attention, but there are so many small tours in exotic countries nowadays....
  • RideOnTime
    RideOnTime Posts: 4,712
    Do we get the Tour of Ireland?
  • pomtarr
    pomtarr Posts: 318
    2009 info still up on the TOI site. So I guess not.
    http://www.tourofireland.ie/index.php
    For information on sponsorship opportunities and route proposals contact Alan Rushton, Race Director
    Tel: +353 87 320 9895 e-mail: alan@tourofireland.ie
    Give him a shout...
    "Difficult, difficult, lemon difficult"
  • all 8 hours of the 2010 Tour of Britain were broadcast at prime time in Australia (SBS), Italy (Rai), New Zealand (Sky) and South Africa (SuperSport), whilst a 90 minute highlights programme was syndicated worldwide.

    In 2011 footage from the ToB will be broadcast in every major TV territory worldwide.
    Come and join me and The Tour of Britain team at a Tour Ride this year!

    www.tourride.co.uk
  • RideOnTime
    RideOnTime Posts: 4,712
    Apparently the Tour Of Britain coverage gets circs 400,000 viewers on ITV4, higher than the that for the Tour de France.