Set to be one of the most challenging and historically set routes yet, the Tour of Britain 2006 lauched at London’s, rather stunning, Lancaster House earlier this week.
With estimations of unprecedented mainstream TV coverage and expectations for hundreds of thousands of spectators, almost 100 of the world’s elite cyclists will race through London as the city becomes a giant cycle stadium for the finale of The Tour.
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After five stages, spanning the ultimate in Britain’s most scenic and historical routes, the sixth and final stage will start at London’s Greenwich, finishing up at The Mall.
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There was a fantastic array of supporters at the launch and we grabbed Great Britain riders Nikki Harris and Bradley Wiggins for a quick pose.
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Bradley Wiggins, Britain’s most successful Olympic cyclist and TfL cycling ambassador said:
“London is a spectacular finish for this year’s Tour of Britain. The sight of the world’s finest cyclists surging through the streets of London will be an inspiration for Londoners, young and old, to get on their bikes.”
Peter Hendy, Commissioner of Transport for London, added:
“London has never seen a cycle race of this scale. This is the third time the Tour of Britain has finished in the capital and this year’s race promises to be bigger and better than ever. The final stage of the race will be a great rehearsal for the 2007 Tour de France and the 2012 Olympics cycling race, and will showcase what cycling has to offer our great city.
“Cycling as a way of getting around is booming in London. The Tour of Britain will help build on that excitement and encourage even more people to take to two wheels.”
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Nikki’s huge success across the cycling disciplines has secured her a position on the GB squad and she’ll be representing us in the Tour as the women embark on a Grand Prix. The day will also include a stage of the World Handcycling Championships featuring a line-up of 60 international para-Olympians, a junior race and the annual amateur elite London Grand Prix for the Bob Chicken Trophy.
Nikki was preparing to ferry it accross to Belgium where she will continue her training on the roads out there.
This year will see an additional sixth stage. On this stage the race will follow a proposed 2012 Olympic cycling route up and over Hampstead Heath then down to Regent’s Park, through Hyde Park on to the Tour de France Prologue route and finally in to St James’s Park for 20 laps of the park’s perimeter to the finish. Here’s a map with the locations of all the stages:
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