Tour Pedals Back to Scotland
A partnership of EventScotland, Glasgow City Marketing Bureau and Dumfries and Galloway Council have confirmed today that the Tour of Britain will return to Scotland for a fourth consecutive year.
Commenting on the announcement, Paul Bush, Chief Operating Officer of EventScotland, the national events agency, said: “This is the fourth year that The Tour of Britain has visited Scotland and the route is certainly one of the most scenic on the Tour. It is yet another opportunity for us to showcase our beautiful country, our cycling heritage and our ability to host major events.
“Scotland is earning a strong reputation for hosting major events, and the Tour of Britain provides us with a great showcase for both Dumfries and Galloway and Glasgow with pictures broadcast to domestic and international TV audiences.”
Scotland’s hosting of the final stage of the Tour in 2007 was the last major event in Glasgow before the announcement that the 2014 Commonwealth Games would be awarded to the city.
Scott Taylor, Chief Executive of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said: "After the excitement of the 2007 event, Glasgow is very much looking forward to welcoming back some of the world’s best cycling teams to the city this year.
“Tour of Britain promises to be another memorable occasion in Glasgow’s sporting annals - as well as a particularly fitting event - as we prepare for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.”
“Tour of Britain promises to be another memorable occasion in Glasgow’s sporting annals - as well as a particularly fitting event - as we prepare for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.”
This year, riders will once again leave from Glasgow (as they did in 2005 and 2006) and ride the 184km stage South through some of Scotland’s most stunning countryside and scenery to finish in the town of Dumfries.
Gillian Dykes, Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Event Champion said “Dumfries and Galloway is a great destination for all types of cycling, so it is fitting to welcome the Tour of Britain each year, to continue to boost the sport and to provide thousands of spectators with a world class and spectacular spectacle.”
This year’s race lasts for eight days, starting in London on September 7th before heading to Scotland for the penultimate stage on September 13th.
The Tour of Britain is part of the professional cycling calendar and was re-established in the UK in 2004 after a gap of nearly 10 years. The event was previously only held in England and Wales until Scotland secured a stage of the event in 2005.
The Tour of Britain is part of the professional cycling calendar and was re-established in the UK in 2004 after a gap of nearly 10 years. The event was previously only held in England and Wales until Scotland secured a stage of the event in 2005.
The race is currently categorised as a second-tier race by the UCI, the sport’s governing body, but the aspiration is to raise the event onto the UCI Professional Elite Tour, alongside such prolific road races such as the Tour de France.
ENDS
For more information, please contact:
Moira Dyer
Senior Manager, Public Relations
Glasgow City Marketing Bureau
Phone: +44 (0) 141 566 0831
Email: moira.dyer@seeglasgow.com
OR
Leon Thompson
Corporate Communications Manager, EventScotland
Corporate Communications Manager, EventScotland