Route announced for 2026 Tour of Britain

The men's cycling race starts in Lincolnshire, with further stages in Yorkshire and Scotland. Route revealed for 2026 Tour of Britain men's cycling race Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Copyright current_year BBC. All rights reserved. The BBC is not responsible for the content of external sites. Read about our approach to external linking. Geraint Thomas in his farewell race as a professional cyclist during the 21st Tour of Britain 2025 Geraint Thomas crosses the finish line cheered by the riders in his farewell and last race as a professional cyclist during the 21st Tour of Britain 2025. The riders are all wearing cycling colours and helmets. Route announced for 2026 Tour of Britain The host venues for the 2026 Tour of Britain men's cycling race have been announced. The first two stages of the professional road cycling event, which attracts top competitors from around the world, will be held in Lincolnshire on 2 September. Further stages will be held in East and North Yorkshire before concluding in the Scottish Borders on Sunday 6 September. Jonathan Day, director of events for British Cycling Ventures, said it would be a memorable event and one which would hopefully inspire more people to get on a bike and "live healthier lives". Lincoln is known for the gruelling climb up the cobbles of Michaelgate Cyclists racing up a cobbled street, with people standing on a path cheering them on. The opening leg will start and finish in Lincoln, before heading to the coast for the second stage between Boston and Skegness. The race then moves to Hull, before heading into the Wolds for the finish in Beverley, East Yorkshire. North Yorkshire then hosts stage four, starting in Helmsley and finishing in Leyburn. The final stage will see the peloton heading north over the border into Scotland, with a new start and finish location in the market town of Earlston for the first time in the event's history. Day added: "We are delighted to be bringing the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men to these fantastic locations. "Taking the Tour to Lincoln for the first time, a city synonymous with its love for cycling, will be special for the opening stage of the men's race." He added that Lincoln was known for hosting the annual Lincoln Grand Prix, which is the country's longest‑running and biggest single-day road race and features a 656ft (200m) climb up the cobbles of Michaelgate towards the city's cathedral. North Yorkshire has hosted many international cycling races over the years A group of cyclists, wearing colourful Lycra cycle along a paved, single track road, surrounded by hedgerows. In the background, Whitby Abbey, a ruined stone building, can be seen. The Tour of Britain last visited the East Riding of Yorkshire in 2023 when the race finished in Beverley, while Hull also hosted a stage in 2008, with the men's race last held in North Yorkshire in 2022. The Scottish Borders has a rich tradition of hosting stages, with the race heading to Hawick in 2021 and 2022 and Kelso in 2017, 2019 and 2024. Organisers said further announcements, including the detailed routes for the five stages, would be announced in the coming weeks, as well as the host locations for the women's race. Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire or Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North. Are running for political office, have you held political office or have you been involved in a political or campaigning organisation in the last 10 years? Download the BBC News app from the App Store for iPhone and iPad or Google Play for Android devices Riders in the Lincoln Grand Prix head up Michaelgate towards the cathedral and Castle Square. Large crowds are standing on both sides of the road. Lincolnshire could host Tour of Britain stage Six children in a assorted sports lycra stand holding bikes, in front of them are two boys also in cycling lycra holding bikes either side of a lady with round glasses and grey hair. She is in a wheelchair and is wearing a teal top and navy trousers, her right knee has a knee brace on it. Grassroots cycling funding 'critical', says club Hayley Crawford, customer service assistant at East Riding Leisure Bridlington, using the new cycle repair station. A large red metal post holds up a bicycle in position for repair. Cycle repair stations installed at leisure centres The race will take place across the region, visiting Boston and Skegness for the first time. Yarborough Hill in Lincoln will be reinforced in a £1.7m project to help stabilise the slope. It is part of a push by the University of Lincoln to establish a dental school in the county. Karl Bushby says he is prepared to swim the channel in order to complete his 28-year journey. The Hull Resilience Hub will give employees access to occupational health and physiotherapy. The Marinera was seized on 7 January in a US Coastguard and Navy operation in the North Atlantic. Residents took over the running of Anlaby Park Community Library to save it from closing in 2013. Charteris will replace Dorothy Bain KC as lead of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service and chief legal adviser to the Scottish government.