The route of the Tour of Britain cycle race has been revealed and it’s going through Purbeck, taking in Lulworth, Church Knowle, Corfe Castle and Wareham.
The prestigious sporting event will take place across the UK from Sunday 4th to Sunday 11th September 2022, with the Dorset stage of the event on Saturday 10th September 2022.
The route through Purbeck goes along the coast and then heads inland to Corfe Castle and then up to Wareham
A big deal for Purbeck
It’s the first time the Tour of Britain has come to Dorset, although its semi-professional forerunner, the Milk Race did visit the county on a number of occasions during the 1970s and 1980s.
This will be a big deal for Purbeck with aerial TV footage beamed round the world, showcasing the magnificent local scenery including, of course, the unmissable Corfe Castle.
The Dorset leg of the race, which is stage seven, will start in West Dorset at West Bay and finish 112 miles later in Ferndown to the east of the county.
The race promises to be a sporting spectacle, starring more than 100 of the world’s best riders. The UK’s brightest hope is 23 year old Ethan Hayter who finished second in the Tour of Britain in 2021.
In 2021 the Tour of Britain went through Ivybridge in Devon
“Eyes of the cycling world will be on Dorset”
Tour of Britain race director, Mick Bennett said:
“The eyes of the cycling world will be on Dorset come Saturday 10th September and I know that both the world-class riders competing and the huge TV audience the Tour of Britain attracts will be blown away by the sheer beauty of the county.
“But more than that, the challenging terrain will make for a thrilling day of racing, with the battle for the stage victory in Ferndown likely to be fierce!”
In 2022, the Dorset stage will start at West Bay and finish in Ferndown
Worth around £3.5 million
It’s estimated that on average, the net economic benefit of hosting a stage of the Tour of Britain since 2016 is worth around £3.5 million.
Dorset Council which is responsible for highways has been integral to planning the route and will be managing the road closures.
Councillor Ray Bryan, Dorset Council’s portfolio holder for highways, travel and environment, said:
“Dorset Council is excited to be working with Tour of Britain, on what promises to be a brilliant opportunity to showcase what our county has to offer to the world.
“With stage seven of the race stretching from the West to the East of Dorset, we maximise the potential benefits for as many local residents and businesses as possible, and we’re looking forward to providing a warm welcome to both competitors and spectators later this year.”
After Dorset, the cyclists will be heading to the Isle of Wight for the final stage, with the finishing post at The Needles.
The Tour of Britain passes through countryside as well as towns
Tour of Britain 2022 stages
- Stage one: Sunday 4th September – Aberdeen to Glenshee Ski Centre
- Stage two: Monday 5th September – Hawick to Duns
- Stage three: Tuesday 6th September – Durham to Sunderland
- Stage four: Wednesday 7th September – Redcar to Duncombe Park, Helmsley
- Stage five: Thursday 8th September – West Bridgford to Mansfield
- Stage six: Friday 9th September – Tewkesbury to Gloucester
- Stage seven: Saturday 10th September – West Bay to Ferndown
- Stage eight: Sunday 11th September – Ryde to The Needles
The Tour of Britain started in the South West in 2021
Broadcast live on TV
For those who don’t wish to venture out on the day, the Tour of Britain will be broadcast live on TV channel ITV4.
This cycle race is just for men – the Women’s Tour takes place in June 2022 and although the route hasn’t been completely decided, it doesn’t look as if it’s coming to Dorset.
Further information
- More about the Tour of Britain is on its website
