Tour of Britain \u2013 stage guide<\/h2>\n- Stage 1:<\/strong> Aberdeen \u2013 Glenshee Ski Centre<\/li>\n
- Stage 2:<\/strong> Hawick \u2013 Duns<\/li>\n
- Stage 3:<\/strong> Durham \u2013 Sunderland<\/li>\n
- Stage 4:<\/strong> Redcar \u2013 Helmsley<\/li>\n
- Stage 5:<\/strong> West Bridgford \u2013 Mansfield<\/li>\n
- Stage 6:<\/strong> Tewkesbury \u2013 Gloucester<\/li>\n
- Stage 7:<\/strong>\u00a0 West Bay \u2013 Ferndown<\/li>\n
- Stage 8:<\/strong>\u00a0 Ryde \u2013 The Needles<\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div> <\/section>
Stage 1<\/h3>\nAberdeen \u2013 Glenshee Ski Centre<\/h4>\n- When:<\/strong> Sunday 4 September<\/li>\n
- Distance:<\/strong> 180.8km<\/li>\n
- Total elevation:<\/strong> 2,512m<\/li>\n
- Skoda KOMs:<\/strong> Bennachie Forest (Cat 3); My Lord\u2019s Throat (Cat 3); Suie Road (Cat 2); Glenshee Ski Centre (Cat 1)<\/li>\n
- Eisberg Sprints:<\/strong> Inverurie; Alford; Ballater<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> This year\u2019s race starts in Aberdeen on Union Street.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nThe 2022 Tour of Britain opens in Aberdeen, in exactly the same spot as Wout van Aert clinched last year\u2019s victory in a gripping finale with home favourite Ethan Hayter.<\/p>\n
The riders will start in Union Street, though racing will be neutralised until they cross last year\u2019s finish line.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the modern Tour of Britain\u2019s second visit to Aberdeenshire and, after the start, the roads will be different from last year. \u201cIt\u2019s always nice to not tread the same path,\u201d says route director Andy Hawes.<\/p>\n
The route heads west, towards the Cairngorms National Park, via popular local climbs My Lord\u2019s Throat and Suie Road. It\u2019s up and down all day, but trending up as the peloton makes its way into the Cairngorms.<\/p>\n
The stage finishes at the Glenshee ski station at 650m, a rare summit finish on the first day of a week-long stage race. It\u2019s only the final 3km where it begins to bite and Hawes reckons it\u2019s a \u201cbig ring climb\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the past I\u2019d have been worried that a summit finish on stage 1 would have a detrimental effect on the rest of the race, and the last thing we want is someone gaining four minutes and the GC be done.\u201d<\/p>\n
He can\u2019t see it playing out like that, and even if there was a big gap on the line, there are many obstacles for the leader to jump before the Isle of Wight finish. \u201cIt\u2019s a gorgeous climb,\u201d adds Hawes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m in two minds about what I want the weather to be. I\u2019ve seen it in glorious sunshine, and on darker days like you would expect, and they\u2019re both amazing. It\u2019s so atmospheric, whatever the weather.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> It\u2019s a long climb up to the finish line at Glenshee Ski Centre.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nStage 2<\/h3>\nHawick \u2013 Duns<\/h4>\n- When:<\/strong> Monday 5 September<\/li>\n
- Distance:<\/strong> 174.8km<\/li>\n
- Total elevation:<\/strong> 2,547m<\/li>\n
- Skoda KOMs:<\/strong> Wanside Rig (Cat 3); Mainslaughter Law (Cat 3); Hardens Hill (Cat 3)<\/li>\n
- Eisberg Sprints:<\/strong> Morebattle; Coldstream; Reston<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Stage two includes more than 2,500m of elevation.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nAs with last year\u2019s race, this is another hilly week, packed to the gills with climbing.<\/p>\n
The previous day\u2019s 2,500 metres of elevation are followed by the same again today and only stage five drops under 2,000m.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re again in Scottish Borders territory, but despite the frequency of visits here, Hawes says they\u2019ve found roads, towns and villages they\u2019ve not been to before.<\/p>\n
Hawick also hosted the start of stage 7 in 2021, a lumpy stage to Edinburgh won by Yves Lampaert.<\/p>\n
The race doesn\u2019t get as far north on this stage, heading out to the east coast town of Eyemouth, before turning around for the Lammermuir Hills, a natural separation between the Borders and East Lothian.<\/p>\n
While it will have been hilly up to this point, all three of this day\u2019s King of the Mountains sections fall within the final 20km, three 3rd category climbs \u2013 Wanside Rig, Mainslaughter Law and Hardens Hill \u2013 and taking the peloton close to 450m elevation.<\/p>\n
Rather than another summit finish, the peloton must negotiate a fast and open descent, one that, for the best descenders, will tempt them into stern attacks as they head towards the final summit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last 5km is off the side of a mountain down into the finish in Duns,\u201d says Hawes.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnybody who gets away on that final KOM could easily come across the line on their own. I can\u2019t see it finishing in a bunch sprint.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> The stage ends with 5km downhill to the finish.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nStage 3<\/h3>\nDurham \u2013 Sunderland<\/h4>\n- When:<\/strong> Tuesday 6 September<\/li>\n
- Distance:<\/strong> 163.3km<\/li>\n
- Total elevation:<\/strong> 2,518m<\/li>\n
- Skoda KOMs:<\/strong> Chapel Fell (Cat 1); Billy Lane (Cat 2); High Moorsley (Cat 3)<\/li>\n
- Eisberg Sprints:<\/strong> Stanhope; Bishop Auckland; Ferryhill<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> There are three KOMs on the third stage.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nCounty Durham\u2019s Chapel Fell makes an appearance on day three.<\/p>\n
At 627m high, it would be the ceiling of many Tours of Britain, but for the earlier visit to the Cairngorms.<\/p>\n
The climb begins in the village of St John\u2019s Chapel, averaging 8.3 per cent over almost 4km.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe riders who are hanging on in there are going to hate it, as you can see the top from a long way off, it\u2019s very open,\u201d says Hawes.<\/p>\n
From there, the stage is up and down, with two more KOMs at 98 and 148km, though nothing on the scale of Chapel Fell.<\/p>\n
Around the mid-point, the race speeds through Barnard Castle, which will serve as a step in restoring its image as a County Durham market town, rather than the scene for the scandal involving Dominic Cummings, the former advisor of the soon-to-be-former PM.<\/p>\n
The day ends in Sunderland, hosting the race for the first time, with a finish in Keel Square. \u201cThe city has been very supportive,\u201d says Hawes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve hosted a couple of rounds of the Tour Series. Once places host that, everyone gets excited and wonders what comes next. Often, that\u2019s the Tour of Britain, or the Women\u2019s Tour, which they\u2019re in negotiations to host.<\/p>\n
Here, we have an opportunity for a bunch sprint, with the hard part earlier in the stage. The break could go and hoover up a lot of the points in the KOM and sprint competitions.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Despite the three climbs, we could still see a bunch sprint.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nStage 4<\/h3>\nRedcar \u2013 Duncombe Park, Helmsley<\/h4>\n- When:<\/strong> Wednesday 7 September<\/li>\n
- Distance:<\/strong> 149.5km<\/li>\n
- Total elevation:<\/strong> 2,669m<\/li>\n
- Skoda KOMs:<\/strong> Robin Hood\u2019s Bay (Cat 1); Egton Bank (Cat 2); Carlton Bank (Cat 1)<\/li>\n
- Eisberg Sprints:<\/strong> Whitby; Stokesley; Newgate Bank<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Stage 4 marks the long-awaited return to Yorkshire.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nJust 40 miles separate the previous night\u2019s finish and the start in Redcar, for what is the toughest stage on paper \u2013 the shortest, but with the most climbing (2,669m).<\/p>\n
The route heads south down the coast to Whitby, before turning inland to traverse the North York Moors National Park. It\u2019s set to be a great-looking stage, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve driven the length and breadth of this country in this job over the years,\u201d Hawes says, \u201cand I don\u2019t get too many \u2018wow\u2019 moments anymore, where you drive round a corner and the view opens up in a grand way. This year, I had it a couple of times on stage four. It\u2019s stunning. If they\u2019re not going up, they\u2019re going down, the only flat part is the neutralised section.\u201d<\/p>\n
The toughest climb, says Hawes, is the final KOM, the Category 1 Carlton Bank, around 26km from the finish. The Newgate Bank climb gets a sprint classification, with another downhill finish into Helmsley, similar to the one into Duns on stage two.<\/p>\n
Day four marks the long-awaited return to Yorkshire. Since the ASO-backed Tour de Yorkshire launched in 2015, the Tour of Britain has been locked out of the county, but when the race folded, its doors opened once more.<\/p>\n
\u201cRedcar was due to be a finish in the 2020 Tour de Yorkshire and they were gutted when it didn\u2019t happen,\u201d says Hawes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen there was the race\u2019s sad demise after that, and we approached them to see if they wanted to host a start and they said absolutely.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> The stage is the shortest in this year\u2019s race, but it has the most elevation.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nStage 5<\/h3>\nWest Bridgford \u2013 Mansfield<\/h4>\n- When:<\/strong> Thursday 8 September<\/li>\n
- Distance:<\/strong> 187km<\/li>\n
- Total elevation:<\/strong> 1,691m<\/li>\n
- Skoda KOMs:<\/strong> Keyworth (Cat 3); Sparken Hill (Cat 3)<\/li>\n
- Eisberg Sprints:<\/strong> Edingley; Retford; Clumber Park<\/li>\n<\/ul>
<\/p><\/div> <\/section>
Stage 1<\/h3>\nAberdeen \u2013 Glenshee Ski Centre<\/h4>\n- When:<\/strong> Sunday 4 September<\/li>\n
- Distance:<\/strong> 180.8km<\/li>\n
- Total elevation:<\/strong> 2,512m<\/li>\n
- Skoda KOMs:<\/strong> Bennachie Forest (Cat 3); My Lord\u2019s Throat (Cat 3); Suie Road (Cat 2); Glenshee Ski Centre (Cat 1)<\/li>\n
- Eisberg Sprints:<\/strong> Inverurie; Alford; Ballater<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> This year\u2019s race starts in Aberdeen on Union Street.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nThe 2022 Tour of Britain opens in Aberdeen, in exactly the same spot as Wout van Aert clinched last year\u2019s victory in a gripping finale with home favourite Ethan Hayter.<\/p>\n
The riders will start in Union Street, though racing will be neutralised until they cross last year\u2019s finish line.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the modern Tour of Britain\u2019s second visit to Aberdeenshire and, after the start, the roads will be different from last year. \u201cIt\u2019s always nice to not tread the same path,\u201d says route director Andy Hawes.<\/p>\n
The route heads west, towards the Cairngorms National Park, via popular local climbs My Lord\u2019s Throat and Suie Road. It\u2019s up and down all day, but trending up as the peloton makes its way into the Cairngorms.<\/p>\n
The stage finishes at the Glenshee ski station at 650m, a rare summit finish on the first day of a week-long stage race. It\u2019s only the final 3km where it begins to bite and Hawes reckons it\u2019s a \u201cbig ring climb\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the past I\u2019d have been worried that a summit finish on stage 1 would have a detrimental effect on the rest of the race, and the last thing we want is someone gaining four minutes and the GC be done.\u201d<\/p>\n
He can\u2019t see it playing out like that, and even if there was a big gap on the line, there are many obstacles for the leader to jump before the Isle of Wight finish. \u201cIt\u2019s a gorgeous climb,\u201d adds Hawes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m in two minds about what I want the weather to be. I\u2019ve seen it in glorious sunshine, and on darker days like you would expect, and they\u2019re both amazing. It\u2019s so atmospheric, whatever the weather.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> It\u2019s a long climb up to the finish line at Glenshee Ski Centre.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nStage 2<\/h3>\nHawick \u2013 Duns<\/h4>\n- When:<\/strong> Monday 5 September<\/li>\n
- Distance:<\/strong> 174.8km<\/li>\n
- Total elevation:<\/strong> 2,547m<\/li>\n
- Skoda KOMs:<\/strong> Wanside Rig (Cat 3); Mainslaughter Law (Cat 3); Hardens Hill (Cat 3)<\/li>\n
- Eisberg Sprints:<\/strong> Morebattle; Coldstream; Reston<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Stage two includes more than 2,500m of elevation.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nAs with last year\u2019s race, this is another hilly week, packed to the gills with climbing.<\/p>\n
The previous day\u2019s 2,500 metres of elevation are followed by the same again today and only stage five drops under 2,000m.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re again in Scottish Borders territory, but despite the frequency of visits here, Hawes says they\u2019ve found roads, towns and villages they\u2019ve not been to before.<\/p>\n
Hawick also hosted the start of stage 7 in 2021, a lumpy stage to Edinburgh won by Yves Lampaert.<\/p>\n
The race doesn\u2019t get as far north on this stage, heading out to the east coast town of Eyemouth, before turning around for the Lammermuir Hills, a natural separation between the Borders and East Lothian.<\/p>\n
While it will have been hilly up to this point, all three of this day\u2019s King of the Mountains sections fall within the final 20km, three 3rd category climbs \u2013 Wanside Rig, Mainslaughter Law and Hardens Hill \u2013 and taking the peloton close to 450m elevation.<\/p>\n
Rather than another summit finish, the peloton must negotiate a fast and open descent, one that, for the best descenders, will tempt them into stern attacks as they head towards the final summit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last 5km is off the side of a mountain down into the finish in Duns,\u201d says Hawes.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnybody who gets away on that final KOM could easily come across the line on their own. I can\u2019t see it finishing in a bunch sprint.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> The stage ends with 5km downhill to the finish.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nStage 3<\/h3>\nDurham \u2013 Sunderland<\/h4>\n- When:<\/strong> Tuesday 6 September<\/li>\n
- Distance:<\/strong> 163.3km<\/li>\n
- Total elevation:<\/strong> 2,518m<\/li>\n
- Skoda KOMs:<\/strong> Chapel Fell (Cat 1); Billy Lane (Cat 2); High Moorsley (Cat 3)<\/li>\n
- Eisberg Sprints:<\/strong> Stanhope; Bishop Auckland; Ferryhill<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> There are three KOMs on the third stage.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nCounty Durham\u2019s Chapel Fell makes an appearance on day three.<\/p>\n
At 627m high, it would be the ceiling of many Tours of Britain, but for the earlier visit to the Cairngorms.<\/p>\n
The climb begins in the village of St John\u2019s Chapel, averaging 8.3 per cent over almost 4km.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe riders who are hanging on in there are going to hate it, as you can see the top from a long way off, it\u2019s very open,\u201d says Hawes.<\/p>\n
From there, the stage is up and down, with two more KOMs at 98 and 148km, though nothing on the scale of Chapel Fell.<\/p>\n
Around the mid-point, the race speeds through Barnard Castle, which will serve as a step in restoring its image as a County Durham market town, rather than the scene for the scandal involving Dominic Cummings, the former advisor of the soon-to-be-former PM.<\/p>\n
The day ends in Sunderland, hosting the race for the first time, with a finish in Keel Square. \u201cThe city has been very supportive,\u201d says Hawes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve hosted a couple of rounds of the Tour Series. Once places host that, everyone gets excited and wonders what comes next. Often, that\u2019s the Tour of Britain, or the Women\u2019s Tour, which they\u2019re in negotiations to host.<\/p>\n
Here, we have an opportunity for a bunch sprint, with the hard part earlier in the stage. The break could go and hoover up a lot of the points in the KOM and sprint competitions.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Despite the three climbs, we could still see a bunch sprint.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nStage 4<\/h3>\nRedcar \u2013 Duncombe Park, Helmsley<\/h4>\n- When:<\/strong> Wednesday 7 September<\/li>\n
- Distance:<\/strong> 149.5km<\/li>\n
- Total elevation:<\/strong> 2,669m<\/li>\n
- Skoda KOMs:<\/strong> Robin Hood\u2019s Bay (Cat 1); Egton Bank (Cat 2); Carlton Bank (Cat 1)<\/li>\n
- Eisberg Sprints:<\/strong> Whitby; Stokesley; Newgate Bank<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> Stage 4 marks the long-awaited return to Yorkshire.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nJust 40 miles separate the previous night\u2019s finish and the start in Redcar, for what is the toughest stage on paper \u2013 the shortest, but with the most climbing (2,669m).<\/p>\n
The route heads south down the coast to Whitby, before turning inland to traverse the North York Moors National Park. It\u2019s set to be a great-looking stage, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve driven the length and breadth of this country in this job over the years,\u201d Hawes says, \u201cand I don\u2019t get too many \u2018wow\u2019 moments anymore, where you drive round a corner and the view opens up in a grand way. This year, I had it a couple of times on stage four. It\u2019s stunning. If they\u2019re not going up, they\u2019re going down, the only flat part is the neutralised section.\u201d<\/p>\n
The toughest climb, says Hawes, is the final KOM, the Category 1 Carlton Bank, around 26km from the finish. The Newgate Bank climb gets a sprint classification, with another downhill finish into Helmsley, similar to the one into Duns on stage two.<\/p>\n
Day four marks the long-awaited return to Yorkshire. Since the ASO-backed Tour de Yorkshire launched in 2015, the Tour of Britain has been locked out of the county, but when the race folded, its doors opened once more.<\/p>\n
\u201cRedcar was due to be a finish in the 2020 Tour de Yorkshire and they were gutted when it didn\u2019t happen,\u201d says Hawes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen there was the race\u2019s sad demise after that, and we approached them to see if they wanted to host a start and they said absolutely.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div> The stage is the shortest in this year\u2019s race, but it has the most elevation.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\nStage 5<\/h3>\nWest Bridgford \u2013 Mansfield<\/h4>\n- When:<\/strong> Thursday 8 September<\/li>\n
- Distance:<\/strong> 187km<\/li>\n
- Total elevation:<\/strong> 1,691m<\/li>\n
- Skoda KOMs:<\/strong> Keyworth (Cat 3); Sparken Hill (Cat 3)<\/li>\n
- Eisberg Sprints:<\/strong> Edingley; Retford; Clumber Park<\/li>\n<\/ul>
- When:<\/strong> Sunday 4 September<\/li>\n
- Distance:<\/strong> 180.8km<\/li>\n
- Total elevation:<\/strong> 2,512m<\/li>\n
- Skoda KOMs:<\/strong> Bennachie Forest (Cat 3); My Lord\u2019s Throat (Cat 3); Suie Road (Cat 2); Glenshee Ski Centre (Cat 1)<\/li>\n
- Eisberg Sprints:<\/strong> Inverurie; Alford; Ballater<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>This year\u2019s race starts in Aberdeen on Union Street.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n The 2022 Tour of Britain opens in Aberdeen, in exactly the same spot as Wout van Aert clinched last year\u2019s victory in a gripping finale with home favourite Ethan Hayter.<\/p>\n
The riders will start in Union Street, though racing will be neutralised until they cross last year\u2019s finish line.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s the modern Tour of Britain\u2019s second visit to Aberdeenshire and, after the start, the roads will be different from last year. \u201cIt\u2019s always nice to not tread the same path,\u201d says route director Andy Hawes.<\/p>\n
The route heads west, towards the Cairngorms National Park, via popular local climbs My Lord\u2019s Throat and Suie Road. It\u2019s up and down all day, but trending up as the peloton makes its way into the Cairngorms.<\/p>\n
The stage finishes at the Glenshee ski station at 650m, a rare summit finish on the first day of a week-long stage race. It\u2019s only the final 3km where it begins to bite and Hawes reckons it\u2019s a \u201cbig ring climb\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn the past I\u2019d have been worried that a summit finish on stage 1 would have a detrimental effect on the rest of the race, and the last thing we want is someone gaining four minutes and the GC be done.\u201d<\/p>\n
He can\u2019t see it playing out like that, and even if there was a big gap on the line, there are many obstacles for the leader to jump before the Isle of Wight finish. \u201cIt\u2019s a gorgeous climb,\u201d adds Hawes.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019m in two minds about what I want the weather to be. I\u2019ve seen it in glorious sunshine, and on darker days like you would expect, and they\u2019re both amazing. It\u2019s so atmospheric, whatever the weather.\u201d<\/p>\n
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>It\u2019s a long climb up to the finish line at Glenshee Ski Centre.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n Stage 2<\/h3>\n
Hawick \u2013 Duns<\/h4>\n
- When:<\/strong> Monday 5 September<\/li>\n
- Distance:<\/strong> 174.8km<\/li>\n
- Total elevation:<\/strong> 2,547m<\/li>\n
- Skoda KOMs:<\/strong> Wanside Rig (Cat 3); Mainslaughter Law (Cat 3); Hardens Hill (Cat 3)<\/li>\n
- Eisberg Sprints:<\/strong> Morebattle; Coldstream; Reston<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Stage two includes more than 2,500m of elevation.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n As with last year\u2019s race, this is another hilly week, packed to the gills with climbing.<\/p>\n
The previous day\u2019s 2,500 metres of elevation are followed by the same again today and only stage five drops under 2,000m.<\/p>\n
We\u2019re again in Scottish Borders territory, but despite the frequency of visits here, Hawes says they\u2019ve found roads, towns and villages they\u2019ve not been to before.<\/p>\n
Hawick also hosted the start of stage 7 in 2021, a lumpy stage to Edinburgh won by Yves Lampaert.<\/p>\n
The race doesn\u2019t get as far north on this stage, heading out to the east coast town of Eyemouth, before turning around for the Lammermuir Hills, a natural separation between the Borders and East Lothian.<\/p>\n
While it will have been hilly up to this point, all three of this day\u2019s King of the Mountains sections fall within the final 20km, three 3rd category climbs \u2013 Wanside Rig, Mainslaughter Law and Hardens Hill \u2013 and taking the peloton close to 450m elevation.<\/p>\n
Rather than another summit finish, the peloton must negotiate a fast and open descent, one that, for the best descenders, will tempt them into stern attacks as they head towards the final summit.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe last 5km is off the side of a mountain down into the finish in Duns,\u201d says Hawes.<\/p>\n
\u201cAnybody who gets away on that final KOM could easily come across the line on their own. I can\u2019t see it finishing in a bunch sprint.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>The stage ends with 5km downhill to the finish.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n Stage 3<\/h3>\n
Durham \u2013 Sunderland<\/h4>\n
- When:<\/strong> Tuesday 6 September<\/li>\n
- Distance:<\/strong> 163.3km<\/li>\n
- Total elevation:<\/strong> 2,518m<\/li>\n
- Skoda KOMs:<\/strong> Chapel Fell (Cat 1); Billy Lane (Cat 2); High Moorsley (Cat 3)<\/li>\n
- Eisberg Sprints:<\/strong> Stanhope; Bishop Auckland; Ferryhill<\/li>\n<\/ul>
![\"""\"]( "\\"\"\"\\"\/")
<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>There are three KOMs on the third stage.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n County Durham\u2019s Chapel Fell makes an appearance on day three.<\/p>\n
At 627m high, it would be the ceiling of many Tours of Britain, but for the earlier visit to the Cairngorms.<\/p>\n
The climb begins in the village of St John\u2019s Chapel, averaging 8.3 per cent over almost 4km.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe riders who are hanging on in there are going to hate it, as you can see the top from a long way off, it\u2019s very open,\u201d says Hawes.<\/p>\n
From there, the stage is up and down, with two more KOMs at 98 and 148km, though nothing on the scale of Chapel Fell.<\/p>\n
Around the mid-point, the race speeds through Barnard Castle, which will serve as a step in restoring its image as a County Durham market town, rather than the scene for the scandal involving Dominic Cummings, the former advisor of the soon-to-be-former PM.<\/p>\n
The day ends in Sunderland, hosting the race for the first time, with a finish in Keel Square. \u201cThe city has been very supportive,\u201d says Hawes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey\u2019ve hosted a couple of rounds of the Tour Series. Once places host that, everyone gets excited and wonders what comes next. Often, that\u2019s the Tour of Britain, or the Women\u2019s Tour, which they\u2019re in negotiations to host.<\/p>\n
Here, we have an opportunity for a bunch sprint, with the hard part earlier in the stage. The break could go and hoover up a lot of the points in the KOM and sprint competitions.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Despite the three climbs, we could still see a bunch sprint.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n Stage 4<\/h3>\n
Redcar \u2013 Duncombe Park, Helmsley<\/h4>\n
- When:<\/strong> Wednesday 7 September<\/li>\n
- Distance:<\/strong> 149.5km<\/li>\n
- Total elevation:<\/strong> 2,669m<\/li>\n
- Skoda KOMs:<\/strong> Robin Hood\u2019s Bay (Cat 1); Egton Bank (Cat 2); Carlton Bank (Cat 1)<\/li>\n
- Eisberg Sprints:<\/strong> Whitby; Stokesley; Newgate Bank<\/li>\n<\/ul>
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>Stage 4 marks the long-awaited return to Yorkshire.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n Just 40 miles separate the previous night\u2019s finish and the start in Redcar, for what is the toughest stage on paper \u2013 the shortest, but with the most climbing (2,669m).<\/p>\n
The route heads south down the coast to Whitby, before turning inland to traverse the North York Moors National Park. It\u2019s set to be a great-looking stage, too.<\/p>\n
\u201cI\u2019ve driven the length and breadth of this country in this job over the years,\u201d Hawes says, \u201cand I don\u2019t get too many \u2018wow\u2019 moments anymore, where you drive round a corner and the view opens up in a grand way. This year, I had it a couple of times on stage four. It\u2019s stunning. If they\u2019re not going up, they\u2019re going down, the only flat part is the neutralised section.\u201d<\/p>\n
The toughest climb, says Hawes, is the final KOM, the Category 1 Carlton Bank, around 26km from the finish. The Newgate Bank climb gets a sprint classification, with another downhill finish into Helmsley, similar to the one into Duns on stage two.<\/p>\n
Day four marks the long-awaited return to Yorkshire. Since the ASO-backed Tour de Yorkshire launched in 2015, the Tour of Britain has been locked out of the county, but when the race folded, its doors opened once more.<\/p>\n
\u201cRedcar was due to be a finish in the 2020 Tour de Yorkshire and they were gutted when it didn\u2019t happen,\u201d says Hawes.<\/p>\n
\u201cThen there was the race\u2019s sad demise after that, and we approached them to see if they wanted to host a start and they said absolutely.\u201d<\/p>\n
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<\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/source><\/picture><\/div>The stage is the shortest in this year\u2019s race, but it has the most elevation.<\/span><\/figcaption><\/div>\n Stage 5<\/h3>\n
West Bridgford \u2013 Mansfield<\/h4>\n
- When:<\/strong> Thursday 8 September<\/li>\n
- Distance:<\/strong> 187km<\/li>\n
- Total elevation:<\/strong> 1,691m<\/li>\n
- Skoda KOMs:<\/strong> Keyworth (Cat 3); Sparken Hill (Cat 3)<\/li>\n
- Eisberg Sprints:<\/strong> Edingley; Retford; Clumber Park<\/li>\n<\/ul>
- Distance:<\/strong> 187km<\/li>\n
- Distance:<\/strong> 149.5km<\/li>\n
- Distance:<\/strong> 163.3km<\/li>\n
- Distance:<\/strong> 174.8km<\/li>\n
- Distance:<\/strong> 180.8km<\/li>\n
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