There are just six weeks to go until the Isle of Wight will host the final stage of the UK’s most prestigious cycle race, the Tour of Britain.
It will be the first time the iconic race would have been hosted on the Island and one of the largest sporting events to ever be held here.
The Tour of Britain starts in Aberdeenshire on Sunday 4th September and over eight days, 19 of the world’s top teams and 100 pro riders, will work their way down, arriving in Ryde on Sunday 11th September.
The IW route
Stage Eight, the final leg of the race, spans 150km and passes through a wide range of the Island’s towns and villages. After starting in Ryde – between 11am-12pm – the race will pass through the main towns and villages of Bembridge, Sandown, Rookley, Shorwell, Mottistone, Freshwater, Yarmouth, Shalfleet, Cowes, Newport, Godshill, Shanklin, Ventnor, Niton to finish at the National Trust’s The Needles Battery around 15:30pm.
Shown in over 150 countries worldwide
The race will be televised live on ITV4 in the UK and shown in over 150 countries worldwide, via Eurosport and the Global Cycling Network. A one-hour highlights show will also be broadcast each evening.
How to get involved
On the day and in the build-up to the race, Islanders are being encouraged to get involved and help to host an Island-wide festival of cycling, sport, and celebration!
There are plenty of ways to show support; from reusing union jack bunting from the Jubilee celebrations or Isle of Wight Day to dressing your property, shop fronts and windows. Or dig out that old bike, decorate it, hang it high – or leave it down low – just make it stand out for the cameras.
Cafes, bars and restaurants could have some fun with a special cycling themed menu.
Land Art competition
This month, Visit IOW and the IW Council also launched an Island-wide Land Art competition.
The tradition of creating land art masterpieces along the route has long been the practice at the Tour of Britain, as well as other cycle races around the world including the Tour de France.
Winning entries could collect a £50 Wight Gift card voucher for their efforts, encouraging individuals, businesses, schools, land-owners and communities to create something spectacular for spectators – and the television cameras to look out for whilst they are following the peloton.
Official charity of the final stage
Mountbatten will be the official charity of the final stage of this year’s Tour of Britain, working alongside the tour organisers to maximise opportunities to promote its brand and services over the race weekend and raise the profile of the charity which relies heavily on public support to deliver it’s services.
Mountbatten joins GKN Aerospace, Wightlink, Red Funnel and South Western Railways as partners of the Tour of Britain Isle of Wight stage, alongside Isle of Wight council and Visit Isle of Wight.
How to help raise awareness of the race
As the excitement builds to the Isle of Wight stage, countdown to the 11th September with the official stage eight graphics, including 40 days to go, then 20 days, ten, three and finally one day to go – everyone is encouraged to use them, in a bid to raise awareness of the race on the Island.
To download the images, visit the Website.
News shared by Simon on behalf of Visit Isle of Wight.Ed
