This year’s Tour of Britain cycle race will conclude with a dramatic uphill battle at The Needles here on the Isle of Wight, with full details of the race route now confirmed.
Building on the success of last year’s race, which saw the overall lead change hands 5 times in 8 days, the battle for victory in the 2022 edition looks set to go down to the final pedal strokes once again.
That battle will be fought out here on the Isle of Wight on Sunday 11th September for what is set to become the biggest-ever sporting event the Island has ever seen. 100 riders will complete a gruelling 150km race including more than 5,900ft of climbing.
It was back in February that Island Echo reported the rumours that the final stage of the Tour would end in the West Wight at the iconic beauty spot. Now, it has been confirmed by race organisers that the race – and the Tour – will culminate with a 2km climb up to Tennyson Down, the final 400 metres of which average a gradient of 9.6%, making it the toughest ending to any Tour of Britain in modern history.
Competitors will start in Ryde before heading through Nettlestone, St Helens, Bembridge and into Sandown before heading up onto The Downs and into Arreton. The race will then go through Merstone, Rookley and Blackwater into Newport and onwards to Cowes via Gunville.
The action then continues West to Porchfield, Shalfleet, Yarmouth, Totland before heading east along Middle Road to Brighstone and Shorwell. That’s not all though… competitors will then have to face Godshill, Shanklin, Ventnor, Whitwell and Niton before joining Military Road en route to Freshwater Bay and the uphill finish at The Needles.
Fans will be able to catch the race in multiple locations owing to the way it loops around the Island, allowing sufficient travel time from one spot to another. The racing action is expected to start at around 10:00 and continue until 16:00.
For most of the route, a rolling road closure will be in place. This means the roads will only be closed temporarily, usually between 15 and 40 minutes ahead of the race passing through.
Additional on street parking restrictions will be introduced along the route for the duration of the race and further detailed information will be made available in due course.
Mick Bennett, Tour of Britain race director, has said:
“As promised when we unveiled the Tour of Britain’s host regions in February, this year’s race features a number of surprises, none more so than hill-top finishes to start and end the eight days of world-class competition. Creating a route that encourages aggressive racing and brave tactics from day one will enhance the reputation of the race, leave the one million plus spectators watching on in person for free with long-lasting memories, showcase the stunning beauty of our host venues, and repeatedly entertain a worldwide audience.”
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 wherever they are. The race will also be shown in over 150 countries worldwide, in part thanks to the event’s partnerships with Eurosport and the Global Cycling Network.
This year’s Tour of Britain will start in Aberdeen on Sunday 4th September before travelling to Hawick, Durham, Redcar, West Bridgford, Teweksbury, West Bay in Dorset and then to Ryde.
If done properly this could be a great boost for the Island.
The rolling road closures seem like a logistics nightmare. I hope they are confident it can be done otherwise it could be a disaster.
Rolling road closures work perfectly well throughout Europe and have done for years for one day classics, one week tours and grand tours, simply no problem. Locals there support and embrace the sport.
Don’t forget, it’ll be island roads doing it here. I predict disaster.
Yarmouth snd Freshwater will be gridlocked with abandoned (parked) cars for days.
Have you seen what Lymington looks like when the Randonee is on. You can’t get within two miles of the ferry port for abandoned vehicles.
No worries though, think of all the additional benefits to the island (let me know when you can think of any). Just have to book that few days off work as no way I am going to be able to get there…..
Its one day. If you had it your way you’d have every day of the year looking identical
Unfortunately for me it will make my day look identical as I will be imprisoned in my house and not able to get out…
ABOUT TIME THAT YOU GOT A LIFE.
Me me me me me……!
Get a life its not as though its every day or week its once in a lifetime to see something amazing to see a come to the island
Hope you don’t need any of the emergency services then…
Precisely..lets hope that a lycra doesn’t have to be surgically removed from the saddle.
So the rest of the population should stand still because of you. Get a grip
“The rest of the population”? I don’t recall there being a referendum as to the popularity or viability.
I think you may find the “vast majority” of the “population”, should they be asked are wholeheartedly tired of the antics of the lycras.
It’s one poxy day.
I have zero interest in cycling.
But good luck to all concerned.
So many selfish people, all in one place. It is good for tourism and good for the island. That’s ALL that matters.
Just give the garden centre a miss for the one day out of your misrable little life.
Why so full of vitriol and hate? ……
Stop moaning and get on with it and let people enjoy something that you will not see again in a long time it’s great to see something like this over here
A fantastic landmark event for the Island (just like all the others that have fallen by the wayside – Diamond races etc etc). So no doubt the usual NIMBY/pitchforkers will want it banned and give it the usual IOW “welcome”
And all you thought the motorcycle race would be bad for the island just wait till this lot is let loose with all there back up cars
Plus the helicopters and drones etc, lets hope this starts a trend for ALL forms of road racing, maybe even have a Red Bull soap box weekend on the island??
More stuff like this the better. Old Islanders cant think of changing their day in day out schedule for 80% of the island have a great time
So remind me, why cant we have the diamond races? Yet get this instead? I’m not seeing a difference, except to whom it appeals.
Has anyone told Island Roads and the fibre crowd? I’m sure they will be able to set up plenty of diversions on diversions for the day. And temp lights of course.
I really don’t understand how ‘rolling road closures’ will work when the road is supposedly only going to be closed to traffic 15 – 40 minutes before the riders appear? How do you get parked vehicles etc out of the way in 15 minutes?
I think that nearer the time we’ll probably find that whole sections of roads around the Island are completely shut to traffic for the day and parking will probably be prohibited for several days in advance to make sure the routes are clear. But, of course they wont tell us that yet.
But, on a positive note, at least Wight Fibre will have to stop digging up the roads while this is on.
Anyone going to tell WightFibre…
It wouldn’t make any difference if anyone did.
A Sunday of walking and looking. Let’s hope the weather stays fine.
The biggest ever sporting event ever seen on the island – what utter rubbish! A minority sport with a very minority audience. If IE think this will generate more spectators than the Fastnet race for example, they are deluded. I am sure there will be more people mowing their lawns than watching an event that will bring no money to the island whatsoever. They will arrive in the morning with all their protein food and drinks and be gone in the evening. All they will do is cause disruption.
Really ? Can you hear yourself ?
Bitter little man.
Actually I prefer lager. I leave the bitters to haters like you who are unable to have a reasoned discussion without resorting to vitriol and abuse.
Yes paul, correct. You are of course ruffling the feathers of the usual numptys.
you really have no idea have you?
More than you it would seem.
What’s a Fastnet race ….????
Anyone know if the route out of Ryde to Bembridge will be up East Hill and along Appley Road?
The NIMBY lot are out in force here I see. Trying their best to stop anyone having a job on the island. I guess it gives them someone to hate, that is the tory way.
As a business owner working hard to earn my crust this kind of event is a god send. Will allow me to keep employing my staff.
Closet Tory then, living off the back of others…
Another whinging leftie lol. Living off the back of the state, collecting your welfare cheque. Don’t bite the hand that feeds you ha ha.
I think you may find it is “Fred” who is always spouting off the left wing Tory hate.
Great news for the island no fumes just pedal power
Really? From the Tour of UK cycling website, each team requires : “10 vehicles: one truck, one bus, one sprinter, one van and six cars. 27 road bikes, 18 time trial bikes and 80 pairs of wheels.”