The Isle of Wight will host the Tour of Britain for the first time ever in September 2022, following an agreement between race organisers and the Isle of Wight Council that will see the final stage of the race taking place on the island. It will mark the first time that the Tour of Britain has visited the Isle of Wight.
The news was announced this morning – Saturday 4 July – in a special ceremony on Ryde seafront, which also marked the start of The Great Tour, a 64-day, 6,700 kilometre charity fundraising cycle, from Ryde.
The Isle of Wight is no stranger to hosting cycle races – the pro-am, cross-Europe Sealink International stage race (1983), the Isle of Wight Classic (1985) and the Tour Series (2015) have all taken place – although 2022’s Tour stage there will be the biggest sporting event ever to take place on its roads.
Isle of Wight Council leader, Councillor Dave Stewart said: “Securing the Tour of Britain is a major coup for the Island and just what is needed to help boost the local economy after the devastating impact of coronavirus.
“This is a wonderful opportunity to showcase the stunning landscapes of the Island to an international audience, attracting spectators locally and from afar to enjoy world-class cycling. This event will support our economy through hotel stays or spending money in local shops and businesses.
“Just as the Isle of Wight is synonymous with sailing, so too I hope we can become a mecca for all things cycling with Tour of Britain and other exciting cycling events in the pipeline.”
“We are delighted to be officially confirming in two years’ time we will be bringing the world’s best cyclists to the Isle of Wight for the final stage of the Tour of Britain, in what I am sure will be one of our most memorable stages,” said Hugh Roberts, Managing Director of Tour of Britain organisers Sweet Spot Group.
“The fact that despite this summer’s events we are working ahead with partners and planning the routes for 2021, 2022 and beyond shows that despite adversity, the Tour of Britain will continue to flourish. We hope that seeing this news will inspire more people and organisations than ever before to get behind and support our national Tour and to help us reach our goal of making the Tour of Britain the biggest stage race outside of the three Grand Tours by the end of the decade.
The 2022 Tour of Britain is due to begin in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire and finish with a final stage on the Isle of Wight. The exact date of the race will be confirmed next September following the publication of the UCI’s 2022 road cycling calendar.
Following the postponement of this September’s Tour of Britain, the next edition of the Tour of Britain be in September 2021, starting in Penzance, Cornwall on Sunday 5 September and finishing in Aberdeen on Sunday 12 September. Full details of the 2021 race route will be announced in the autumn.
