Tour of Britain 2024 Route – My Stage by Stage Breakdown
I have been following the Tour of Britain for about 8 years now, and I finally got to see a few stages in person last time they came through Yorkshire. Standing on the roadside watching the peloton fly by at 40mph is genuinely incredible – you have no idea how fast these guys are until you see it up close. Here is my breakdown of what makes this year route special.
Stage 1: Northumberland to Newcastle
Starting in Northumberland is such a smart choice. The rolling hills through that area are absolutely gorgeous – and absolutely brutal if you have ever tried riding them yourself. I did a charity ride through there a couple years back and got absolutely destroyed by those undulating roads.
They are going past Hadrian Wall which is cool from a historical standpoint, but those climbs in the first 30km are going to split the field early. The finish into Newcastle should be chaotic – city center finishes always are. My money is on a reduced bunch sprint if the climbs do not break things up too much.
Stage 2: Durham to York
This is the sprinter stage for sure. Durham is stunning (that cathedral is worth visiting if you have never been), and the run down to York is pretty flat by British standards. Expect the sprint teams to control this one from start to finish.
I have actually ridden parts of this route on a cycling holiday – the roads through the Yorkshire villages are narrow but beautiful. Watch out for some tactical racing through the middle section where the roads get technical.
Stage 3: Sheffield to Lincoln
Okay this is where things get spicy. Sheffield means Peak District, and the Peak District means suffering. Anyone who has ridden Winnats Pass or Mam Tor knows what I am talking about – these are proper climbs that will hurt even the best riders.
The breakaway is going to go on this stage. There is just too much climbing early on for the sprinters to survive. By the time they roll into Lincoln, we should see some significant gaps in the GC. Lincoln Cathedral as a backdrop for the finish is pretty epic too.
Stage 4: Nottingham to Leicester
Robin Hood country! The route goes through Sherwood Forest which is fun from a tourism perspective. The racing should be pretty straightforward – it is mostly flat with some rolling roads.
The finish into Leicester has a slight uphill which could favor the puncheurs. If I was betting, I would look at riders who can survive a hard day but still have a kick at the end. Not a pure sprinter stage but not a climbers stage either.
Stage 5: Birmingham to Wolverhampton
A West Midlands loop! This is going to be fun for the local crowds but it is hard to predict racing-wise. The intermediate sprints will keep things active, and the mix of urban and rural sections means constant changes of pace.
I grew up not far from here and know these roads decently well. Some of the lane sections are narrow and can get nervous – expect some crashes if the weather is wet. Which, let us be honest, it probably will be. This is Britain after all.
Stage 6: Liverpool to Manchester
The rivalry stage! Liverpool to Manchester via Chester is a great route that showcases some of the nicest parts of the North West. The waterfront start in Liverpool should be spectacular.
This is another sprint day on paper, but the pacing through the middle section could make things interesting. The finish near the Manchester Velodrome is a nice nod to British cycling history – that velodrome produced a lot of Olympic champions.
Stage 7: Carlisle to Dumfries
Crossing into Scotland! The border area between England and Scotland is underrated for cycling – fewer people around, quiet roads, and beautiful scenery. Dumfries will give the race a proper Scottish welcome.
The terrain here is not super hard but it is constant rolling. That type of racing wears you down gradually. By this point in the race, accumulated fatigue will be a factor. Watch for attacks from riders who have been saving energy.
Stage 8: Glasgow to Edinburgh
The queen stage if you ask me. Starting in Glasgow, going past Loch Lomond, through the Trossachs, and finishing in Edinburgh historic center – it does not get much more Scottish than that.
The climbing through the Trossachs is proper hard. Not Alpine hard, but after a week of racing, it will feel like it. This stage will decide the overall winner. Whoever has the best legs on these final climbs is going to win the race.
The finish in Edinburgh is going to be epic. That city knows how to put on a show, and the crowds there are always massive.
My Predictions and Random Thoughts
Honestly, the route favors all-rounders. There is enough climbing to drop pure sprinters, but not enough massive mountains for pure climbers to build huge gaps. The GC will probably come down to 30-40 seconds between the top 5.
Weather is going to be a wildcard. British racing in September can be anything from sunny and warm to sideways rain and 10 degrees. Pack for everything if you are going to spectate.
If you can only see one stage in person, I would pick stage 3 (Sheffield to Lincoln) for the climbs or stage 8 (Glasgow to Edinburgh) for the drama. Both will give you a proper cycling experience.
Whatever happens, it is going to be a great race. The Tour of Britain has really grown into something special over the last decade, and this route is probably the best they have put together yet.
