There’s just 1 month to go until the Tour of Britain cycle race makes its long-awaited visit to the Isle of Wight, with organisers, sponsors and ambassadors coming together to mark the occasion in Ryde this morning (Thursday).
The race reaches its climax here on Sunday 11th September when around 100 of the world’s best riders will take on the 150km Isle of Wight stage, passing through Ryde, Newport, Shanklin and Brighstone – and almost everywhere in between.
No stranger to hosting cycling events, the Isle of Wight has hosted events such as the pro-am, cross-Europe Sealink International stage race and the tour series, the most recent race back in 2015.
But with the good weather we’ve had this year, it’s hoped the Island leg will be one of the best.
At a special gathering on Ryde Esplanade this morning, Peter Hodges, PR and Marketing Director, told Island Echo:
“Just over 100 of the world’s top cyclists and because its the final stage, its the day its all up for grabs.
“This is the first time we’ve had a stage on an Island, so I think that is something really unique.
“Yes it’s a bike race, but it’s also a showcase of the places that we go”.
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The race will go around the Island giving fans the chance to see the racers in many different locations, some of the most exciting stages may be at places such as on the Military Road, where the leaders will be jostling for position, or when the riders navigate the notoriously long and steep Zig Zag Road in Ventnor.
The varied nature of the course will cause difficulty for even the most experienced riders, with Dan Martin, ambassador for the Tour of Britain, and multiple Tour de France stage winner, telling Island Echo:
“It’s really deceiving when you compare it to a stage in the alps it looks like nothing, but the narrow twisting roads and steep gradients, its really tricky and I think it’ll catch a lot of riders out.
“When I first trained over here, I couldn’t believe how hard the roads were here, it’s really technical and demanding”
This year’s race starts on Sunday 4th September up in Aberdeen and finishes 7 days later here on the Island on Sunday 11th September when the riders cross the line at The Needles Battery.
Oh, whoopee.
Get over yourselves IE.
Apart from a few with a lycra fetish, nobody is looking foward to this nonsense, and its disruption.
I think the only thing that will catch the lycra clad louts is the protests that will be happening. Still by then we might have raging storms and high winds.
And what actual “protests” would they be?
Get real!
The thought is out there so you never know, the worm will turn eventually…
Real ones from people who live here and want to be able to park where they want, go out when they want and not being shouted and abused by these so called “sportsman” What a joke that is.
Any event that helps promote the island and its businesses is worth a little bit of inconvenience
No it isn’t
And what Island businesses is it actually promoting and helping to make money then???????? They will bring staff, all the food and drink will be brought over. All you will see of the island is the nice sea views, not the run down areas of Newport or any of the other towns.
Any business with a positive attitude. Last years tour generated 4500 hotel room bookings, 5m uk viewers watching 67 hours TV coverage and 2million utube viewers. Presenting a positive view of the island will generate visitors and income for island businesses in the future.
Wonderful news. Cyclists on the road, car drivers off the road win win.
Yes, the lycra morons were out in force this morning, no doubt trying to “ride the route”, riding four abreast across the road through Shanklin causing a huge tailback of traffic. Mindless and thoughtless cretins. Oh, and you did look absolutely ridiculous in your pathetic lycra outfits.
Also riding 4 abreast on main Cowed to Newport road this morning causing even more delays for everyone apart from them for when they reach the Que caused by the traffic lights they mounted the pavement and rode on lucky no pedestrians were hurt!
I can’t wait for the traffic jams!
Think I had better take my dog away for the weekend!