Over 100 of the world’s best cyclists will race between Hawick and Duns when the Tour of Britain returns to the Scottish Borders later this year
Race organisers SweetSpot have today released more details of stage two of the UK’s most prestigious cycle race, taking place on Monday 5 September, including the start and finish locations.
The race’s ninth visit to the Borders promises to be an unforgettable sporting spectacle, featuring some of the best backdrops that Britain has to offer and a first-ever finish in Duns.
One year on from hosting its first stage start, Hawick will return to the Tour of Britain in September, and will once again be where the riders depart from. The 178-kilometre (110-mile) route will pass through Jedburgh, Kelso, Coldstream – all places familiar to the Tour – as it heads north east to visit the historic coastal town of Eyemouth for the first time, before turning inland for the finish in Duns.
The route’s toughest climbs are saved for the final 30 kilometres, including ascents of Wanside Rigg, Blairdardie Drive and Hardens Hill. The top of the latter comes just five kilometres out from the finish, so expect a fast and thrilling finale to this stage – fitting given that the winner will triumph outside of the Jim Clark Motorsport Museum that celebrates the famed two-time Formula One World Champion.
Mick Bennett, Tour of Britain race director
“So many riders told me that they found the Tour’s visit to the Scottish Borders in 2021 as beautiful as anything as they had seen while racing and I know what they mean! Given the Borders’ mix of historic towns and villages alongside the most spectacular of backdrops, we cannot wait to take the Tour of Britain back there once again in September and showcase it around the world on TV. But whether you’re watching the race by the roadside for free or tuning in at home, this is going to be a great day of racing!”
The Tour of Britain first visited the Borders in 2009, when Peebles hosted a stage start. The last stage to date to finish in the county came in 2019, when Italian all-rounder Matteo Trentin triumphed in Kelso. On average, the net economic benefit of hosting a stage of the Tour of Britain since 2016 has been worth £3.5m to venues.
Sam Smith, Scottish Borders Council’s Chief Officer for Economic Development
“We are delighted to be hosting the Tour of Britain again this year and have the whole of Stage Two in the area.
“Hawick was a fantastic stage start venue last year and it is great that we’ve managed to bring a stage finish to Berwickshire for the first time to showcase the region.”
Hill-top finishes at Glenshee Ski Centre in Aberdeenshire and The Needles on the Isle of Wight will bookend the Tour of Britain, which returns for what promises to be a groundbreaking 18th modern edition in September.
Building on the success of last year’s race, which saw the overall lead change hands five times in eight days, the battle for victory in the 2022 edition looks set to go down to the final pedal strokes once again.
The race also features a return to North Yorkshire after over a decade on stage four and first-ever full stages in Gloucestershire (Tewkesbury to Gloucester, Friday 9 September) and Dorset (West Bay to Ferndown, Saturday 10 September).
Get involved
While spectators can watch all the action by the roadside for free, race day hospitality packages offer guaranteed prime views of stage starts and finishes, complete with fine dining experiences. For more information, visit the website.
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.
Last year’s star-studded race was won by Belgian rider Wout Van Aert (Team Jumbo – Visma), with reigning world road race champion Julian Alaphilippe finishing third overall. A roadside crowd of over one million spectators resulted in the Tour of Britain generating £29.96m of net economic benefit for the UK economy, according to research by Frontline.
With the cycling industry enjoying a continued boom in the UK, there are a range of sponsorship opportunities available with the Tour of Britain for 2022. Packages range from the title partnership of the events to sponsorship of individual classifications, and digital and broadcast opportunities.