Tour of Britain 2018

thefog

Looks like;

stage 2 in Devon http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news ... -1-5519065

Stage 8 in Nottinghamshire West Bridgford to Mansfield https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/loc ... ea-1333314

Not sure where that places the final stage on the Sunday, usually penultimate stage is nearer London but Mansfield to London would be a long final transfer? GC queen stage decider in Peak District?

Pross

They moved the final stage out of London last year (it was in Cardiff with a penultimate stage from Hemel Hempsted to Cheltenham) so final stage this year is presumably somewhere up that way (Leeds maybe?).

gsk82

Pross wrote:

They moved the final stage out of London last year (it was in Cardiff with a penultimate stage from Hemel Hempsted to Cheltenham) so final stage this year is presumably somewhere up that way (Leeds maybe?).

Don't expect to see it in Yorkshire.

Vino'sGhost

shouldnt this be in the shoot small races forum

Pross

Vino'sGhost wrote:

shouldnt this be in the shoot small races forum

No, it needs its own thread so that people can come and moan when the route is published and doesn't go through their home town.

figbat

So what is this - local councils leaking stage routes? I thought the tour route wasn't being announced until next month? Is this embargo-busting sort of thing normal? I'm not really familiar with road racing but am getting thoughts about maybe going to see a bit, if close enough.

fenix

It's worth going to see if you can include a bike ride I reckon. I'm hoping it comes close enough for a day off work and a bit of a bike ride.

If you're on a flat stage though the whole thing is over in minutes.

The_Boy

Meh. Doesn't pass by my front door.

Vino'sGhost

Pross wrote:

Vino'sGhost wrote:

shouldnt this be in the shoot small races forum

No, it needs its own thread so that people can come and moan when the route is published and doesn't go through their home town.

Ha it came past my front door a few years ago. great fun.

drhaggis

Started from my front door last year. Was in Poland for a conference. Darn.

RichN95.

Pross wrote:

They moved the final stage out of London last year (it was in Cardiff with a penultimate stage from Hemel Hempsted to Cheltenham) so final stage this year is presumably somewhere up that way (Leeds maybe?).

Don’t they tend to miss Yorkshire out these days as they have their own race?

ShutupJens

RichN95 wrote:

Pross wrote:

They moved the final stage out of London last year (it was in Cardiff with a penultimate stage from Hemel Hempsted to Cheltenham) so final stage this year is presumably somewhere up that way (Leeds maybe?).

Don’t they tend to miss Yorkshire out these days as they have their own race?

Pretty much, don't see why Leeds would bother bidding for a start/finish

Has come pretty close to us still with a finish in Colne the other year, just the wrong side of the border

Pross

RichN95 wrote:

Pross wrote:

They moved the final stage out of London last year (it was in Cardiff with a penultimate stage from Hemel Hempsted to Cheltenham) so final stage this year is presumably somewhere up that way (Leeds maybe?).

Don’t they tend to miss Yorkshire out these days as they have their own race?

Yep, I was just trying to think of somewhere in the area they may have the finish if the penultimate day is in Notts.

thefog

RichN95 wrote:

Pross wrote:

They moved the final stage out of London last year (it was in Cardiff with a penultimate stage from Hemel Hempsted to Cheltenham) so final stage this year is presumably somewhere up that way (Leeds maybe?).

Don’t they tend to miss Yorkshire out these days as they have their own race?

Sadly, but what a shame!

Despite organisers in Yorkshire claiming its the biggest cycle race,it’s not. The tour of Britain (at least until last year) is an excellent race that’s got better each year and perfect calendar position before the world championships. Leeds or York* would do well to host the race. It’s a HC race and with enough marketing will get the same massive crowds out as the Tour de Yorkshire (and stages of ToB have). Yorkshire authorities need to look beyond Gary Verity’s ego.

It attracts more WT teams and a better Calibre of rider usually too and the six rider teams make for an exciting race.

* York haven’t hosted the tour de Yorkshire so interesting whether they would bid for hosting the tour of Britain. Could provide a stunning finish.

RichN95.

Remember that Yorkshire also have the World Championships next year

dstev55

TheFog wrote:

Looks like;

stage 2 in Devon http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news ... -1-5519065

Stage 8 in Nottinghamshire West Bridgford to Mansfield https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/loc ... ea-1333314

Not sure where that places the final stage on the Sunday, usually penultimate stage is nearer London but Mansfield to London would be a long final transfer? GC queen stage decider in Peak District?

Please.... Queen stage finishes on Beeley Moor after going up Rowsley Bar. Now that would be epic!

gsk82

dstev55 wrote:

TheFog wrote:

Looks like;

stage 2 in Devon http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news ... -1-5519065

Stage 8 in Nottinghamshire West Bridgford to Mansfield https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/loc ... ea-1333314

Not sure where that places the final stage on the Sunday, usually penultimate stage is nearer London but Mansfield to London would be a long final transfer? GC queen stage decider in Peak District?

Please.... Queen stage finishes on Beeley Moor after going up Rowsley Bar. Now that would be epic!

I wouldnt get your hopes up. The TofB organisers seem to have decided that the most important thing is to get big names, which realistically means mark Cavendish, which means sprint stages.

Its a real shame because it was a good race for a few years

awavey

well the race only survives because the organisers can convince local councils to stump up the cash to pay for it all, those councils see the most important thing is for the race to boost local commerce,tourism and so on, so expect to be able to promote it with big names the non cycling public have heard of, so that means the likes of Cav for now, which then dictates the type of stages.

fwiw I wouldnt expect any of the stages for the ToB to cross over in areas the Womens Tour is visiting this year, or where Tour Series rounds have been held.

drhaggis

gsk82 wrote:

dstev55 wrote:

TheFog wrote:

Looks like;

stage 2 in Devon http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news ... -1-5519065

Stage 8 in Nottinghamshire West Bridgford to Mansfield https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/loc ... ea-1333314

Not sure where that places the final stage on the Sunday, usually penultimate stage is nearer London but Mansfield to London would be a long final transfer? GC queen stage decider in Peak District?

Please.... Queen stage finishes on Beeley Moor after going up Rowsley Bar. Now that would be epic!

I wouldnt get your hopes up. The TofB organisers seem to have decided that the most important thing is to get big names, which realistically means mark Cavendish, which means sprint stages.

Its a real shame because it was a good race for a few years

To be fair, the race also takes place during Vuelta a España. So given the treatment Vuelta gives to sprinters and the like, and the sort of courses Vuelta likes, sprintery stages are Tour of Britain's best chances at getting big names. Mind you, the Canadian races seem to be attracting quite a few puncheurs at around that time too.

ShutupJens

gsk82 wrote:

dstev55 wrote:

TheFog wrote:

Looks like;

stage 2 in Devon http://www.northdevongazette.co.uk/news ... -1-5519065

Stage 8 in Nottinghamshire West Bridgford to Mansfield https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/loc ... ea-1333314

Not sure where that places the final stage on the Sunday, usually penultimate stage is nearer London but Mansfield to London would be a long final transfer? GC queen stage decider in Peak District?

Please.... Queen stage finishes on Beeley Moor after going up Rowsley Bar. Now that would be epic!

I wouldnt get your hopes up. The TofB organisers seem to have decided that the most important thing is to get big names, which realistically means mark Cavendish, which means sprint stages.

Its a real shame because it was a good race for a few years

I disagree - the ToB has become a genuine alternative route for riders looking for worlds prep too now that it is a lot harder than it used to be. The organisers would be daft putting all their eggs in a basket marked Cavendish given how this year is going for him

RichN95.

gsk82 wrote:

I wouldnt get your hopes up. The TofB organisers seem to have decided that the most important thing is to get big names, which realistically means mark Cavendish, which means sprint stages.

Its a real shame because it was a good race for a few years

If he's 'available', there has to be a good chance of persuading Froome to turn up.

jimmocrates

ShutupJens wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Pross wrote:

They moved the final stage out of London last year (it was in Cardiff with a penultimate stage from Hemel Hempsted to Cheltenham) so final stage this year is presumably somewhere up that way (Leeds maybe?).

Don’t they tend to miss Yorkshire out these days as they have their own race?

Pretty much, don't see why Leeds would bother bidding for a start/finish

Has come pretty close to us still with a finish in Colne the other year, just the wrong side of the border

That was a fantastic stage.
Relentless Lancashire roads.We know we can't compete on length of climb,but multiple short sharp climbs have proven to produce great racing.

DeadCalm

A mere 9,000 kilometres from my front door. Woohoo!

ShutupJens

TheFog wrote:

RichN95 wrote:

Pross wrote:

They moved the final stage out of London last year (it was in Cardiff with a penultimate stage from Hemel Hempsted to Cheltenham) so final stage this year is presumably somewhere up that way (Leeds maybe?).

Don’t they tend to miss Yorkshire out these days as they have their own race?

Sadly, but what a shame!

Despite organisers in Yorkshire claiming its the biggest cycle race,it’s not. The tour of Britain (at least until last year) is an excellent race that’s got better each year and perfect calendar position before the world championships. Leeds or York* would do well to host the race. It’s a HC race and with enough marketing will get the same massive crowds out as the Tour de Yorkshire (and stages of ToB have). Yorkshire authorities need to look beyond Gary Verity’s ego.

It attracts more WT teams and a better Calibre of rider usually too and the six rider teams make for an exciting race.

* York haven’t hosted the tour de Yorkshire so interesting whether they would bid for hosting the tour of Britain. Could provide a stunning finish.

As mentioned, Yorkshire is getting the worlds. Plus the TdY still pulls in a decent calibre of rider and you get some really interesting choices of route where you can see the more local conti riders battling it out up close. I'd rather have that than one stage of the tob

Also York has hosted the TDY

Pross

First stage from Carmarthenshire to Newport apparently. Could be hilly but I suspect not.

bendertherobot

Pross wrote:

First stage from Carmarthenshire to Newport apparently. Could be hilly but I suspect not.

Yeah, part of me says, go Black Mountain, Beacons, etc.

But the other part says, go straight, and come past my house.

paul_sw

With the Worlds in Innsbruck this year, if the the ToB wants to attract riders looking for Worlds prep it is going to need a very lumpy parcours this year.....

Dave L

Looks like there will be a Cumbrian stage this year....
http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/barrow/Tour-of-Britain-to-come-to-Barrow-and-Ulverston-84d6ee5b-c381-4df0-9c01-9a338f9d6759-ds
Doubtless they'll manage to miss all the best climbs, but one can always hope.

birdie23

Dave L wrote:

Looks like there will be a Cumbrian stage this year....
http://www.nwemail.co.uk/news/barrow/Tour-of-Britain-to-come-to-Barrow-and-Ulverston-84d6ee5b-c381-4df0-9c01-9a338f9d6759-ds
Doubtless they'll manage to miss all the best climbs, but one can always hope.

Sunny Bank up to the Range Rover garage at Torver was resurfaced because of this a few weeks ago, rumour I heard was that it's earlier than the 7th though.

mouth

The_Boy wrote:

Meh. Doesn't pass by my front door.

Sadly, it pretty much does mine. West Bridgford - Mansfield is about 15 miles so I suspect it'll either head out over Lincolnshire for a sprint stage or out towards Derbyshire for a few hills.

It's been here a few times - 2012 it started in the city centre and I managed to get a picture of Wiggins and Cav in full World Champ regalia. Traffic was held for about 10 minutes and things weren't too bad.

A couple of years later (2015 I think) it finished just outside the city centre and caused absolute mayhem with the road closures. Stage was from Stoke or somewhere like that to Nottingham through Derbyshire. Naturally there was a breakaway group for a sprint (Trentin won I think) with a massive gap. Traffic was held for around 45 minutes and more than 40 of the 60 or so local bus routes were seriously affected (that's how much road the stage covered) throughout school kicking out time and into a Friday rush hour.

I can assure you the race coming back to the city centre isn't going to be popular.

thefog

ShutupJens wrote:

Also York has hosted the TDY

Sorry, did mean to type "in the last few years". A stage finished in York in 2015, first year of the tour.