East Suffolk Council
Suffolk routes revealed for opening stages of Lloyds Tour of Britain Men
The two stage routes that will open this year’s Lloyds Tour of Britain Men in East Suffolk and Mid Suffolk and Babergh, have today been revealed, that will see the world’s top cyclists pass through dozens of communities and cover more than 300 kilometres of Suffolk roads.
Tuesday 2 September will see riders getting underway from Woodbridge in East Suffolk, and facing a 161.4-kilometre (100.4-mile) stage to Southwold, the first time that the opening stage of Britain’s biggest professional men’s cycle race has been held in Suffolk since 2012.
From the start in Woodbridge at 11am, riders will initially head west, before looping back around through Grundisburgh, Wickham Market, and Rendlesham, before passing the famous Snape Maltings to reach the Suffolk coast at Aldeburgh.
Running alongside the sea to Thorpeness, the route then turns inland, weaving through Saxmundham and Framlingham, to the day’s intermediate sprint on Walpole Road in Halesworth.
The stage will reach its northernmost point at Bungay, routing back towards Southwold via Beccles, Wrentham and Reydon, for the finish on North Parade in Southwold, which is expected at around 3.05pm.
For the first time ever, Suffolk will host two stages of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men in the same edition, with Mid Suffolk District Council and neighbouring Babergh District Council hosting a stage starting and finishing in Stowmarket on Wednesday 3 September.
The 169.3-kilometre (105.3-mile) leg will depart from Ipswich Street in the town centre at 11:00, leaving towards Stowupland and Forward Green. The route takes in Debenham and Bedfield, before the intermediate sprint in Stradbroke after 40 kilometres of racing.
Crossing Mid Suffolk to Eye and Thurston, the race turns south to Felsham and into Babergh for a southern loop taking in Lavenham, Sudbury, and the Dedham Vale National Landscape, before turning back for the run towards Stowmarket and the finish on Ipswich Street around 15:15.
Stage two also includes the first designated king of the mountains climb of the race, Semer Hill, just after Hadleigh, in the closing kilometres of the race.
Cllr Seamus Bennett, East Suffolk Council’s assistant cabinet member, said: "We are thrilled to be supporting the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men when it returns to East Suffolk next month. Hosting Stage One of the Tour, from Woodbridge to Southwold, is particularly exciting. The race will pass through many of our towns and villages, and we know that residents, businesses and visitors will be out lining the route and showing their support for this major sporting event, which directly benefits local communities and once again puts our beautiful district on the map.”
Cllr Andy Mellen, leader of Mid Suffolk District Council said: “We are delighted that the Tour will be going through the heart of our county. I know our communities along the route will be out in force to cheer the riders on and show an international audience what our district has to offer.”
Cllr John Ward, Babergh District Council leader said: “As well as offering a thrilling climb, our section of the route allows us to share the unique charm of Babergh’s historic towns and villages as well as landscapes that have inspired some of our nation’s most renowned artists. We hope it will make for spectacular viewing.”
Commenting on the announcement of the detailed routes, Jonathan Day, Managing Director for British Cycling Events, said; “This is the news that fans have been looking forward to, and with a month to go until the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men gets underway, we are delighted to be sharing the exciting detail of all six routes.
“Following the announcement of the fantastic line-up of teams for the race, fans can now start planning exactly where they will be watching their heroes and cheering them on in September. We have worked hard with our stakeholders across all six stages to create this great route that will build to a real climax as we reach Wales, with the racing for the green jersey sure to go all the way down to the finish line on North Road in Cardiff.”
Following the two Suffolk stages, subsequent legs of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men take in Milton Keynes and a first visit to Ampthill in Central Bedfordshire, before a challenging Warwickshire stage ending in a hilltop finish at Burton Dassett Hills Country Park.
The race concludes with a brace of challenging stages in south Wales, the first including a double ascent of The Tumble, before a final stage between the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome of Wales in Newport to the Welsh capital, Cardiff, on Sunday 7 September.