Goole is set to play host to 100 of the world’s leading cyclists after being named as a stage start for the Tour of Britain, the UK’s leading cycle race.
On Tuesday, September 5, stage three of the prestigious race, which will include Olympic, world and Tour de France champions, will line up on Boothferry Road in the town centre before racing exclusively through East Yorkshire’s towns and countryside before finishing at the racecourse on Beverley Westwood.
This will be the first time East Yorkshire has played host to an entire stage start and while details of the exact route have yet to be announced, the race will take in Howden, Market Weighton, Driffield, Bridlington and Hornsea.
It will be the first time since 2008 that the Tour of Britain has come through the East Riding, although the county is no stranger to international cycle races having hosted a number of stage starts in Beverley and Bridlington for the recent Tour de Yorkshire events, as well as the UCI para-cycling event in 2019.
Councillor Anne Handley, leader of East Riding of Yorkshire Council, said: “I am absolutely delighted to be able to announce that the East Riding will be hosting a full stage of the Tour of Britain and really excited that Goole has been selected as a start location.
“It will be fabulous, not just for the people of Goole to get involved with such a prestigious race but for people across the East Riding and what a fantastic opportunity to show not just the UK, but the world, what a beautiful place we live.”.
Mick Bennett, Tour of Britain race director, said: “Given the amazing response that followed the unveiling of Beverley as the stage three finish host, I’m excited that we’ve got even more great news for everybody in and around the East Riding of Yorkshire.
“People have requested full Tour of Britain stage in the area for years – ask and you shall receive, I say!
“Stage three promises to be a wonderful showcase for this part of England, something that couldn’t have happened without the fantastic support of everyone in the East Riding. See you all in September.”
Since its return in 2004, the Tour of Britain has become a cornerstone of the UK sporting calendar.
Over 15 million people have watched the event in person, with the race generating over £330m for the UK economy to date. Former winners include Frenchman Julian Alaphilippe (2018), the two-time world champion, and Belgian star Wout van Aert (2021), while British sporting hero Mark Cavendish holds the record for the most stage victories (10).
The Tour of Britain 2023 will begin in Greater Manchester on Sunday 3 September and culminate eight stages later in South Wales (Sunday 10 September). Along the way the riders will race through Wrexham, Nottinghamshire, Suffolk and Essex, creating an unforgettable sporting spectacle that is free for all to watch.
* More details of this year’s race, including full stage routes and competing teams, will be announced in the coming weeks and for more information go to www.tourofbritain.co.uk
ITV4 will continue to broadcast live flag-to-flag coverage of every stage, as well as daily highlights show, allowing fans in the UK to watch the action unfold wherever they are. International coverage will be available in over 150 countries courtesy of Eurosport and GCN+.
