Tour of Britain

[MattH]

After lots of uncertainty, with SweetSpot losing the rights to the ToB (they owned the Women's Tour), it looks like both calendar slots are going in-house to British Cycling. So the men's should be on this year, and the new "Tour of Britain Women" will hopefully run, albeit a reduced event due to tight timelines.

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/racing/tour-of-britain-and-womens-tour-future-guaranteed-by-british-cycling-but-womens-race-in-doubt-for-2024

[peter simplex]

What exactly are 'sustainable cycling events'?  In which way will the ToB be 'sustainable'?  I can see that if the Women's race doesn't take place that will be extremely 'sustainable'.

[MattH]

From the context, and that they use the phrase "financially sustainable" I think it means that the event brings in enough money in sponsorship etc. to be at least self funding, rather than loss making.

[MattH]

And the "Tour of Britain Women" as it is now known is back on the UCI calendar, 6th-9th June 

https://www.cyclingweekly.com/racing/shortened-tour-of-britain-women-added-to-ucis-2024-calendar

(not sure if this link will work, the UCI site is a bit weird)
https://www.uci.org/calendar/road/2ruOnavHX0dMGTCRozdYAU?discipline=ROA&country=GBR

[Peter]

Do you have a course yet, Matt?  Are we going to see you storming up some hill in the NW on your moto as for last year's men's race?

[MattH]

All I know is literally what it says in that article - because that's where I heard it I have no special access to info, and if I did, I wouldn't share it publicly.

No idea who will be on it, teams or organisation-wise, or where in the country it is. Just glad it's going ahead. Letting the Women's race slide would be a really bad thing for the sport, so I'm sure people have been working frantically to try to make it happen.

[Peter]

Don't worry, Matt - when I know, I'll tell you.  I already know where the Tour de France is going!