Tour Pedals Back to Scotland

Commenting on the announcement that the Tour of Britain will return to Scotland, Paul Bush, Chief Operating Officer of EventScotland, the national events agency said, “This is the fourth year that The Tour of Britain has visited Scotland and the route is certainly one of the most scenic on the Tour. It is yet another opportunity for us to showcase our beautiful country, our cycling heritage and our ability to host major events.

“Scotland is earning a strong reputation for hosting major events, and the Tour of Britain provides us with a great showcase for both Dumfries and Galloway and Glasgow with pictures broadcast to domestic and international TV audiences.”

Scotland’s hosting of the final stage of the Tour in 2007 was the last major event in Glasgow before the announcement that the 2014 Commonwealth Games would be awarded to the city.

Scott Taylor, CEO of Glasgow City Marketing Bureau, said "After the excitement of the 2007 event, Glasgow is very much looking forward to welcoming back some of the world’s best cycling teams to the city this year.

“Tour of Britain promises to be another memorable occasion in Glasgow’s sporting annals - as well as a particularly fitting event - as we prepare for the 2014 Commonwealth Games.”

This year, riders will once again leave from Glasgow (as they did in 2005 and 2006) and ride the 184km stage South through some of Scotland’s most stunning countryside and scenery to finish in the town of Dumfries. The race lasts for eight days, starting in London on September 7th before heading to Scotland for the penultimate stage on September 13th.

The Tour of Britain is part of the professional cycling calendar and was re-established in the UK in 2004 after a gap of nearly 10 years. The event was previously only held in England and Wales until Scotland secured a stage of the event in 2005.

The race is currently categorised as a second-tier race by the UCI, the sport’s governing body, but the aspiration is to raise the event onto the UCI Professional Elite Tour, alongside such prolific road races such as the Tour de France.