East Suffolk will host the overall finish of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men this September, as Lowestoft and Felixstowe play host to Britain’s biggest professional cycle race on Sunday 8 September.
East Suffolk will host the overall finish of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men this September, as Lowestoft and Felixstowe play host to Britain’s biggest professional cycle race on Sunday 8 September.
It will mark the seventh edition of the men’s Tour to have visited Suffolk, although the first time that the county has hosted the prestigious final stage of the event.
Twelve months on from Wout van Aert taking an audacious stage win on Sea Road in Felixstowe, on his way to overall victory in the race, the 2024 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men’s champion will be crowned in Felixstowe.
While Felixstowe has hosted starts and finishes of men’s and women’s Tours before, Lowestoft last had the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men race through in 2012 during the opening stage of the race from Ipswich to the Royal Norfolk Showground.
Full details of the stage route, which will start from the seafront in Lowestoft and take in many roads, villages, and towns familiar to the peloton from previous Suffolk stages, will be announced in the coming weeks.
Commenting on the announcement, British Cycling Events Managing Director, Jonathan Day, said: “We’re delighted to be bringing top-level racing and the joy of cycling to communities across the country in September, with six stages to showcase the very best of Britain’s character and terrain.
“We’re enormously thankful to the local partners who are supporting the delivery of this year’s race, as we look to build on the momentum of June’s successful Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women. I’ve no doubt that their communities will be out in force to welcome the riders, and make it another memorable week of racing to cap off a huge summer of cycling.”
Cllr Sarah Whitelock, East Suffolk Council’s cabinet member for Communities, Culture, Leisure and Tourism said: “We are thrilled to see the return of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men this year, which is especially exciting as the entire final stage will be held within East Suffolk.
“National sporting events such as the Tour of Britain bring huge benefits to the area, attracting visitors to the district and providing a real boost for local businesses and communities. We are looking forward to September and seeing this amazing sporting spectacle in our district.”
In 2021 Felixstowe hosted the final stage of the women’s event, with a stage won by reigning World Road Race Champion Elisa Balsamo, as Dutchwoman Demi Vollering took the overall honours.
The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men begins in the Scottish Borders on Tuesday 3 September, visiting the Tees Valley, South Yorkshire, and West Northamptonshire over subsequent stages.
More details of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, including the stage six route map, detailed stage timings, and competing teams will be announcing in the coming weeks.