Mayor Claire welcomes Tour of Britain to the East Midlands

The East Midlands route for Stage Four of Britain’s biggest professional cycle race, the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, was announced yesterday (1 August). The route will take the race from Derby to Newark-on-Trent, through Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire on Friday 6 September.

For the first time in the 20-year history of the modern race, the city of Derby will welcome the race, with the stage getting underway at 11am from outside of the Derby Arena.

Elvaston, Borrowash, West Hallam and Heanor all feature as the Tour heads through the roads of Derbyshire for the first time since 2015, crossing into Nottinghamshire at Eastwood and continuing through Hucknall, Ravenshead, Blidworth, Southwell and Tuxford, before crossing the River Trent to race south to the finish alongside Sconce and Devon Park in Newark-on-Trent.

Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, who launched her ambitions for a Visit East Midlands strategy at Derbyshire’s iconic Chatsworth House last week, said:

“Those of us who live and work here know what a superb place the East Midlands is to visit, we need to tell the rest of the country and the world, hosting the Tour of Britain is a huge coup for us.

“The visitor economy supports local businesses, creates jobs and wealth, but we know we can attract even more visitors, creating more opportunities across our counties, towns, villages and cities for people of all ages.

“My mission is to drive inclusive growth across the region and the Visit East Midlands programme is a key part of those ambitions. The Tour of Britain is a great way to showcase what we’ve got.”

According to latest figures from Marketing Nottingham & Nottinghamshire, the Peak District, Derbyshire and Derby, nearly 75 million visitors came to the region in 2022/23, supporting over 50,000 jobs and creating an economic impact of across the area was worth £5bn.

Commenting on the announcement, Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men Race Director Rod Ellingworth said:

“After three tough days of racing, stage four could be the first chance for the sprinters, and having seen the likes of Fernando Gaviria and Olav Kooij win in Newark-on-Trent in the past, we know it is a route and finish that suits the fast men, and also an area of the country where the race always enjoys great support from the community.

“While the roads of Nottinghamshire will be very familiar to the peloton, we are delighted to be able to showcase the Derby Arena with our start, and then head through parts of Derbyshire and west Nottinghamshire that haven’t seen the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men for several years. Our thanks go to the East Midlands Combined County Authority and to our partners at Derby City Council, Derbyshire County Council, Nottinghamshire County Council, and the boroughs across the route for their support of the stage.”