Tour of Britain makes a welcome return to Nottinghamshire

Stage four of the showpiece event will start at Forest Corner in Edwinstowe – a short distance away from the iconic Major Oak and RSPB Sherwood Forest Visitor Centre – before finishing in Newark-on-Trent on Wednesday 6 September.

The full route will be launched soon, but the world-class field of riders will pass through several towns and villages in the districts of Bassetlaw and Newark and Sherwood along the 170-kilometre stage.

Popular visitor destinations Southwell Minster and Clumber Park will also feature on the stage as Nottinghamshire gears up to host the Tour for a fourth time since 2017.

Councillor Paul Peacock, Leader of Newark and Sherwood District Council attended the launch at Forest Corner, “I’m delighted to see that the Tour of Britain is returning to the district, we have some amazing communities who really embrace the tour, villages such as Edwinstowe, Farnsfield and Blidworth have really made the effort to decorate the village and welcome the race previously.

“This year with the race stage starting at Forest Corner and finishing in Newark more of our communities will have the chance to support the event.

“Newark is no stranger to cycling events with the Town Centre Races taking place at the end of July.

“The Tour coming to Newark will be great for local business, with more visitors encouraged to come into the district alongside our local residents who will be out too watching this amazing spectacle.”

Gemma Howarth, RSPB Area Manager for the East Midlands, said: "We are thrilled that RSPB Sherwood Forest has been selected as the starting point for this stage of the Tour of Britain. Sherwood is such a culturally iconic British location, which attracts thousands of visitors from across the globe.

“So, to have the world's top cyclists coming to Robin Hood's Forest makes it a perfect fit and a very exciting occasion for the RSPB, the county and the community of Edwinstowe."

The Tour of Britain coming to Newark and Sherwood is a great opportunity for local businesses too. The influx of visitors, many of whom stay overnight helped to boost the local economy by over £4m according to an economic impact assessment commissioned by the event’s organisers.

Mick Bennett, Tour of Britain race director, said: “Given the size of the crowd and the wall of noise that greeted the world’s best riders for our last stage in Nottinghamshire in 2022, it makes perfect sense to return there this year.

“I reckon we’re going to be treated to another thrilling day of world-class, free-to-watch, sporting action, set to a backdrop of some the most spectacular scenery Great Britain has to offer.

“The continued support of our stakeholders in Nottinghamshire cannot be overlooked and I thank them for their passion in helping make the Tour’s visits to Robin Hood Country a lasting memory for so many.”

The final route through Nottinghamshire is yet to be finalised, however it will start on Forest Corner in Edwinstowe and will finish in Newark. It is expected to take in several of our towns, villages and local landmarks such as Southwell Minster.

The modern-day Tour of Britain was launched in 2004 and – apart from the Covid-19 pandemic forcing its cancellation in 2020 – has taken place annually every September over eight days.

It is British cycling’s premier road event and will feature the world’s top teams and riders, alongside the best British-based cyclists, with a field expected to be made up of Tour de France winners, Olympians, and world champions.

Live coverage of the race is shown daily in the UK on ITV4, in addition to around the world.

The Tour of Britain is part of the UCI ProSeries, making it one of the most prestigious sporting events in the sport’s global calendar.