Details of the opening stage of this year’s Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men in the Scottish Borders have today been announced
The route includes a spectator friendly route including five categorised climbs getting the 20 edition of Britain’s biggest professional bike race underway.
Stage one on Tuesday 3 September will take in a 181.9-kilometre (113.1-mile) route starting and finishing in Kelso, passing through Coldstream, Gordon, Melrose, Denholm, Jedburgh and St Boswells, with more than 2,300 metres of ascent.
Stage details
The first stage route features two loops, enabling spectators in Kelso and Melrose, and on the categorised climbs at Scott’s View and Dingleton, to see the race in action twice.
From Kelso the race will first head east alongside the River Tweed to Coldstream, turning north and west via Greenlaw, Gordon and Smailholm to the first ascent of the scenic viewpoint of Scott’s View.
The 2.5 kilometre climb averages 2.5%, and is followed within 10 kilometres by the tougher 6.2% average gradient of the two kilometre climb of Dingleton, in the Eildon Hills above Melrose.
The route continues south to Denholm, climbing Dunion Hill (three kilometres at 5.4%) and descending into Jedburgh before returning to Kelso alongside the River Teviot.
Riders will then repeat the intermediate sprint in Melrose and the King of the Mountains climbs at Scott’s View and Dingleton, the latter coming with just under 23 kilometres of racing remaining, to set up a thrilling chase back to the cobbled finish in Kelso.
The stage will also feature three intermediate sprints, where time bonuses and points for the sprinters jersey are available, the first coming in Melrose after 75 kilometres of racing, and the second in Kelso (128km) on the first passage of the finish line with just over an hour of the stage remaining. The Melrose sprint will then be tackled for a second time after 156 kilometres.
The South of Scotland was recognised in 2023 as being a UCI Bike Region, due to the commitment to not just elite cycling but cycling for all, and this will be the tenth time in 15 years that the area has held a stage start or finish of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men.
Rod Ellingworth, Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men Race Director
"The Scottish Borders has a long history with the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men and so we are delighted to have worked with our partners at Scottish Borders Council to come up with this spectator friendly, and challenging route, for the riders.
"With five categorised climbs this will be a tough opening stage, and is by no means certain to end in a sprint, so should set up a thrilling battle between the sprinters and those riders who believe the final climb at Dingleton can be a launchpad to victory in Kelso."
Scott Hamilton, Executive Member for Community and Business Development
"The route for the Scottish Borders stage of this year’s Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men is superb and will be a fantastic advert for the Scottish Borders and cycling in the region. It is especially exciting to have the element of a loop through Kelso, the iconic viewpoint at Scott’s View and Melrose, giving spectators the opportunity to see the race on multiple occasions.
“We look forward to welcoming visitors from across the country to enjoy not only some world class cycling, but also our brilliant local businesses and additional activities and events that we are planning.”
Paul Bush OBE, VisitScotland Director of Events
“The Scottish Borders have a strong history of hosting the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, and it will once again provide the perfect stage for the start of this year’s race.
“Set against the backdrop of some of Scotland’s most iconic and spectacular locations and countryside, the two loops featured in the opening stage route will give spectators plenty of great places to get out and watch the 20th edition of Britain’s biggest professional bike race.
“Scotland is one of the best places in the world to experience events and EventScotland is proud to be supporting of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men.”
Previous years
The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain most recently visited the Scottish Borders in 2022, when Cees Bol took a thrilling stage win in Duns, while Kelso has hosted the national Tour on three previous occasions – in 2015 when Elia Viviani won at nearby Floors Castle; and in 2017 and 2019 when stages also finished on Kelso’s cobbled market square, won by Caleb Ewan and Matteo Trentin respectively.
Following the Scottish Borders stage the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men heads to the Tees Valley, South Yorkshire, East Midlands, and West Northamptonshire, before concluding in Suffolk on Sunday 8 September after six stages of racing.
More details of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, including the detailed stage timings and competing teams will be announcing in the coming weeks.
Premium experiences
Fans wanting to enjoy the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men with premium experiences, can now get closer to the action with hospitality, in-car places, and exclusive helicopter packages, now available at Sportive Breaks.