28 July 2008

Tour of Britain unveils exciting finish in European Capital of Culture

City centre circuit at the heart of Liverpool to make for exciting finale to 2008 Tour of Britain

The organisers of The Tour of Britain today unveiled the route of the eighth and final stage of this year’s edition of the race, which will see the race cross England’s Northwest to finish in the 2008 European Capital of Culture, Liverpool.

This year Liverpool hosts the overall finish, which if 2007 is anything to go by will be an exciting day of cycling, culminating in the winner of the 2008 Tour of Britain being crowned.

Councillor Warren Bradley, Leader of Liverpool City Council and Deputy chair of the Liverpool Culture Company, said:

''Liverpool is honoured to be hosting the finale to the Tour of Britain. This is a major coup for the city and a blue-riband event in our European Capital of Culture celebrations.

It's also a great example of our commitment and ability to attract world-class events that the public can enjoy for free. The race finale is a unique sporting spectacle and I'm sure it will draw huge crowds and make for a great sporting occasion in the city. The fans can expect live sport at its best and the riders can expect a glorious welcome.''

The Northwest stage of the race is supported by the Northwest Regional Development Agency (NWDA), who have been instrumental in securing the region’s position on The Tour of Britain map since its successful re-launch in 2004.

Peter Mearns, Executive Director of Marketing at the NWDA, said:

“The Tour of Britain has been a welcome addition to the region’s calendar of major events for a number of years and with the race finish in Liverpool this year promises to be the best yet.

“The region provides a fantastic backdrop for these elite athletes and for the increasing number of spectators that come to enjoy the race. I am looking forward to another world-class event this September.”

Liverpool has a proud history of hosting stages of The Tour of Britain, having been a fixture on the races’ calendar since 2006, when Great Britain’s Roger Hammond took the win outside the Town Hall.  In 2007 Liverpool hosted a stage start, as the riders set off from Sefton Park on their way north to Kendal for Stage Five of the race.

The riders will depart from Blackpool’s Southern Promenade close to the Sandcastle for the final 110km (68 mile) stage of the race, hugging the coast of the Irish Sea through Lytham St Annes before heading inland up the Ribble Valley to Preston, where the race will cross the River Ribble.

From Preston the stage heads across the West Lancashire Coastal Plain to Southport for the first Hot Spot Sprint of the day on the seafront. The stage then continues via Formby to enter Liverpool through Crosby and Bootle.

Once in the European Capital of Culture, The Tour will complete six laps of a city centre based circuit, giving fans several opportunities to see the closing stages of the 2008 Tour of Britain.

The field will contest two Hot Spot Sprints at the finish line on The Strand, while the final three E.ON King of the Mountains climbs are located on Churchill Way at the top of the circuit.

With a circuit passing familiar landmarks like the Three Graces, the Town Hall and the Walker Art Gallery, it’s sure to be a spectacular finish to the race, with plenty of opportunities for spectators to get a great view point.

Tour of Britain Route Director Graham Jones said:

“The final leg of The Tour of Britain is always an exciting stage and this year will be no different. 

We’ve got a great finishing circuit in the centre of Liverpool, which will allow fans to see the race several times. The run in to the city is very flat, so the peloton will be at top speed when they reach Liverpool, which is sure to make for a bunch sprint, a spectacular prospect for all the spectators who come down to the finish line.”

-Ends-

Information & images can be downloaded from www.tourofbritain.co.uk

For further press information, please contact:

Paul Rowlands
rowlandsp@thetour.co.uk
0870 112 8650

Peter Hodges
peterh@thetour.co.uk
0870 112 8650

The Tour of Britain 2008 – The Stages

7 September  Stage 1   London Circuit
8 September  Stage 2   Milton Keynes to Newbury
9 September  Stage 3   Chard to Burnham-on-Sea
10 September  Stage 4   Worcester to Stoke-on-Trent
11 September  Stage 5   Hull to Dalby Forest
12 September  Stage 6   Darlington to NewcastleGateshead
13 September  Stage 7   Glasgow Green to Dumfries & Galloway
14 September  Stage 8   Blackpool to Liverpool 

ITV4 will broadcast a nightly highlights programme between 19.00 and 20.00, each night of The Tour of Britain

The Tour of Britain 2008 – The Teams

Agritubel
An Post – M.Donnelly – Grant Thornton – Sean Kelly Cycling Team
Barloworld
Great Britain
MTN Energade
Palmeiras Resort - Tavira
Pinarello RT – Candi TV
Plowman Craven Cycling Team
Rapha – Condor – Recycling.co.uk
Rock Racing
SouthAustralia.com - AIS
Team CSC – Saxo Bank
Team Columbia
Team Garmin – Chipotle presented by H30
Topsport Vlaanderen
TBA