The Tour of Britain, the UK’s biggest pro cycle race, will finish in Wales in 2023 – as part of a new long-term agreement that race organiser SweetSpot has confirmed with the Welsh Government.
Next year’s Tour of Britain, scheduled to run from September 3-10, 2023, will be the 16th of the modern race that will have taken place in Wales since its return to the calendar in 2004. A further five stages of the Women’s Tour have also been hosted by Welsh regions since the race’s inaugural 2014 edition.
In that time the two events have visited 18 of the 22 local authority regions in Wales… ‘and generated an economic impact to the Welsh economy running into tens of millions of pounds.’
Additionally, the tours have covered almost 3,000 kilometres of racing in Wales, visiting the cities of Cardiff, Newport, Swansea, and Wrexham, as well as racing through both the Snowdonia and Brecon Beacons National Parks.
The new agreement, which began with this year’s Women’s Tour stage between Wrexham and Welshpool in June, will secure future visits of both races to the country over the next four years.
Welsh Government Economy Minister, Vaughan Gething, said “We’re looking forward to welcoming the Tour of Britain back again next year – and to our longer-term partnership with the Tour.
“Wales’ credentials for hosting cycling events is now well-established. The Tour of Britain and Women’s Tour are the perfect showcase for our landscape and the welcome we provide to the competitors and spectators. We look forward to working with our local authority partners as the Tour of Britain continues to reach all points of Wales.”
Since 2012, 12 stages of the men’s Tour of Britain and two stages of Women’s Tour in Wales have been broadcast live, reaching millions of viewers in the UK and around the world. Every stage held in Wales has also enjoyed free-to-air highlights broadcast in Britain.
Additionally, the organisers add that hundreds and thousands of spectators have seen both free-to-attend events as they have passed through communities large and small across the length and breadth of Wales.
Anne Adams-King, Welsh Cycling CEO, said “It’s great news that the Tour of Britain will visit Wales again for 2023 and that the race and the Women’s Tour have secured a longer-term partnership with the Welsh Government.
“We hope this news will help boost the popularity of cycling in Wales and help inspire the younger generation to take up their bikes.”
Mick Bennett, Tour of Britain and Women’s Tour race director, said “We are delighted to be extending our partnership with the Welsh Government and to be bringing the final stage of the 2023 Tour of Britain to Wales.
“The long-term support of the Welsh Government is invaluable in allowing us to plan for future stages of the races in Wales. Together we are working to reach as many parts of Wales as possible with both races over the next few years in order to give as many fans as possible the chance to see the Tour of Britain and Women’s Tour.”
Following the hosting of the final stage of the 2023 Tour of Britain, the new agreement will see the 2024 Women’s Tour start in Wales for the first time ever. In 2025 it will be the turn of the men’s Tour of Britain to start in Wales for the first time since 2018, and then 2026 will see the Women’s Tour’s overall finish in Wales for the first time in seven years.
Further details of the final stage of the Tour of Britain 2023 will be announced in the New Year, with more information on the host venues and routes for the Welsh stages of future editions of both races to be unveiled in due course.
