Isle of Wight ferry company Wightlink has signed up as an official sponsor of this year’s final stage of the Tour of Britain, which lands on the Isle of Wight on Sunday, September 11th.
More than 100 of the world’s top cyclists will be racing from Ryde, on the island off southern England, in an uphill finish at The Needles and over a 150-kilometre (93-mile) stage.
Many of the event competitors, as well as thousands of spectators expected to travel to the Isle of Wight, will be travelling with Wightlink – which is an Official Travel Partner to this year’s Tour of Britain.
Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield, said “The beautiful Isle of Wight is a fantastic place for cyclists, whether professional racers, keen amateurs or families just enjoying a day out on two wheels.
“We are delighted to team up with the Tour of Britain organisers to promote the race and carry riders and spectators across the Solent to watch the action, and are sure Sunday 11 September will be an incredible day for everyone.”
Wightlink links the Isle of Wight with Hampshire through two car ferry routes from Portsmouth to Fishbourne and from Lymington to Yarmouth, and a foot passenger service linking Portsmouth Harbour with Ryde Pier.
Will Myles, Managing Director of Visit Isle of Wight, said “The final stage of the Tour of Britain on the Isle of Wight looks set to be one of the most spectacular finishes ever.
The island is the ultimate destination for cyclists, whether out on a gentle ride with family and friends, or racing against some of the fastest cyclists in the world. Events need support and we welcome Wightlink as a key partner, whose help will go towards making this finale such an incredible spectacle.”
ITV4 will continue to broadcast live flag-to-flag coverage of every stage as well as a nightly highlights show, allowing fans in the UK to watch from home. The race will also be shown in over 150 countries worldwide, thanks to the event’s partnerships with Eurosport and Global Cycling Network (GCN).
Last year’s race was won by Belgian rider Wout Van Aert (Team Jumbo – Visma), with reigning world road race champion Julian Alaphilippe finishing third overall. According to research by Frontline, a roadside crowd of over 1 million spectators resulted in the Tour of Britain generating £29.96m of net economic benefit for the UK economy.
