Isle of Wight ferry company Wightlink has signed up as an official sponsor of this year’s final stage of the Tour of Britain cycle race, which heads to the Isle of Wight on Sunday 11th September.
More than 100 of the world’s top cyclists will be racing from Ryde to a thrilling uphill finish at The Needles in a grueling 150-kilometre (93-mile) stage.
Many of the competitors, as well as the tens of thousands of spectators expected to travel to the Isle of Wight.
ITV4 will continue to broadcast live flag-to-flag coverage of every stage and nightly highlights show, allowing fans in the UK to watch wherever they are. The race will also be shown in over 150 countries worldwide, thanks to the event’s partnerships with Eurosport and the Global Cycling Network.
Wightlink Chief Executive Keith Greenfield has 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.”
Councillor Julie Jones-Evans, Cabinet member for regeneration and tourism at Isle of Wight Council, adds:
“I’m delighted to welcome Wightlink as official travel partner for the Isle of Wight leg of the Tour of Britain, and thank them for their support.
“We are all excited for the arrival of the race in September and today’s announcement gives the event a further boost.”
Will Myles, Managing Director of Visit Isle of Wight, says:
“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.”
Let us hope they ‘have enough’ staff for this, as seems an issue for their ferry crossings quiet often.
Thought they were on their knees during the Covid pandemic, pleading for the government bailout.
Certainly recovered haven’t they.
Well said. They should get their house in order before they do this.
Going by the picture, just a normal day on the Military Road with the lycras causing mayhem.
Nice one. Glad to see that this nonsense event is not coming to East Cowes, and with the Wightlink connection, they will hopefully cross over from Portsmouth to Fishbourne thus avoiding us altogether. Hugely funny that IE reckon thousands of spectators will be coming to the island, as if.
I hear you like to hang around to have a good look as we pass
Yup, It’s the inflated cod pieces I can’t get enough of although the tap dancer shoes do come a close second.
or moving up the queue for the ferry
Jam up the solent and let no one pass
Fantastic news, more cyclists more the merrier.
Just another reason for wightlink to up the prices. I know the event will bring in much needed money for the island but only if people can afford the ridiculously high prices on the ferries
Good for the cyclists although not a fan myself….. Now what about the motorcycle racing!?
If we can’t have the motorcycle racing, why should we have to host these Lycra louts over here. Bring on the superbikes.
“The Island is the ultimate destination for cyclists”……..er no it really isn’t Will Myles……
Seen better roads in third world countries, certainly not good for 2 skinny wheels
Will Myles, you point out that people will go out for a gentle ride, or race against other cyclists, but you forgot to mention how lycra louts love to race around towns, paths, lanes in “packs” often going against the traffic flow, abuse pedestrians and drivers who are doing nothing wrong. I think tens of thousands of spectators is massively overestimated, a few would be more like it. This will bring chaos to the local people here who work all week and use a sunday to relax on. Still what do the tourist board or council or ferry companies care about the locals, it is just about the money and greed.
It might just rain that day, hopefully tacks and drawing pins.
All the genuine and disturbing woes in the world and yet a few people get upset by some bicycles! ‘The race will also be shown in over 150 countries worldwide’ … sounds like a good thing to promote the Island and help the hard working people in the tourist sector.
Contrary to helping the hard working people in the tourist sector, most of the residents will be staying put in their garden so not out spending their money as they would normally.
Exactly right; nothing will persuade me out of our house that day.
Wonderfull … just what I need when trying to go to work .. more idiots that think the island is a velodrome, uninsured and under educated, lycra clad, rude !
I can only ride exercise bike these days but wish the tour great success and thanks to Wight link
Riding 3 abreast, clogging up the roads. Thanks Wightlink. Hope their helmets are equipped with yellow flashing lights to indicate slow moving vehicles.
You’re kidding, right?
Many of those cyclist can ride faster than the average old duffer on Isle of Wight drives.