British Cycling reveals ambition to deliver men’s and women’s Tours of Britain in 2024
British Cycling plans to organise 2024 Tour of Britain events for men and women, although CEO says that holding a women's tour this year will involve "a race against the clock"
British Cycling has today announced its ambition to deliver Tour of Britain events for women and men in 2024, as part of what it calls “a new vision for major cycling events in Britain”.
The future of the Tour of Britain and the Women’s Tour had been placed into doubt following the announcement that the organiser of both races, Sweetspot, went into liquidation last month. Cycling Weekly reported that SweetSpot was facing legal claims of almost £1 million. British Cycling had also stripped Sweetspot of the right to run the Tour of Britain over a dispute regarding licence fees.
There have been high profile calls for British Cycling to take urgent action to save both races in recent times. British Cycling’s own elite road racing task force recommended that, “all efforts should be made to ensure delivery of the Tour of Britain and a UCI Women’s World Tour stage race in 2024.” And in our recent podcast interview with task force chair Ed Clancy, he urged that British Cycling “does everything in their power to ensure that [the races] happen.”
2023 Tour of Britain – Stage 8: Margam Country Park to Caerphilly (166.8km) – Rasmus Tiller of Team Uno-X Pro Cycling. Image: Alex Whitehead/SWpix.com
British Cycling appears to be responding positively and proactively. “Recognising the vital importance of the events to our teams, riders, and our national cycling identity, our ambition is to deliver two national tours (the Tour of Britain – Women and Tour of Britain – Men) in 2024 and beyond,” it says in its press release today.
The intention is to run the events in the calendar slots previously occupied by The Women’s Tour and the Tour of Britain. Furthermore, we understand that British Cycling hopes the events would have the same UCI status (Women’s WorldTour and 2.Pro respectively) as the Sweetspot-run races.
In effect, this would make British Cycling a major road race organiser in its own right. The governing body says that the events will be delivered through its British Cycling Events subsidiary, which has already delivered events such as UCI Track Champions League rounds in Britain.
British Cycling recognises that “delivering the events in 2024 will be incredibly challenging,” but also says that “we have already commenced positive discussions with partners across all areas of commercial, broadcast, and local delivery, and have been hugely encouraged by the support we have received to date.”
We’ve still got a lot of work to do on the Tour of Britain Women, and it is a race against the clock in terms of those June dates
Jon Dutton, CEO, British Cycling
Whilst the signs are encouraging, particularly for the men’s Tour of Britain, British Cycling’s CEO Jon Dutton told Cycling Weekly and other selected media on Thursday that, “We’ve still got a lot of work to do on the Tour of Britain Women, and it is a race against the clock in terms of those June dates, there may have to be some compromises from what has happened before in terms of duration.
“I think what we can say, at this point in time, is that we do not think it will be a six stage race for the Tour of Britain Women [this year] but we’re doing everything we can to make sure it’s a high quality racing experience. So that’s not just about the number of stages, it’s about the terrain, the geography, topography, start and finish, and also delivering it economically.”
The Women’s Tour 2022 Stage 6 – Chipping Norton to Oxford – Wales. Image: Zac Williams/SWpix.com
Dutton highlighted that there was greater certainty about the men’s Tour of Britain this year. “With the Tour of Britain men, we obviously have more time,” he said. “We’ve done an immense amount of work and it will be an eight stage race, obviously there is more complexity, but we have a level of confidence that we’re able to deliver that and protect the races because it’s so important.”
Whatever happens in the short-term, British Cycling’s ambition beyond 2024 is bold, stating that in its press release that it has “a long-term vision to grow the races and their stature within the global cycling calendar, making the most of Britain’s most iconic and challenging routes to provide unforgettable moments for riders, fans and communities alike.”
We know just how important our men’s and women’s national tours are to our riders, teams and the national cycling culture. We have acted quickly to safeguard their place on the calendar in 2024
Jon Dutton, CEO, British Cycling
“We know just how important our men’s and women’s national tours are to our riders, teams and the national cycling culture. We have acted quickly to safeguard their place on the calendar in 2024, and have bold, long-term ambitions to grow their stature, reach and commercial proposition over the years ahead,” says British Cycling’s CEO Jon Dutton.
British Cycling says that it understands that the uncertainty surrounding the two events has been a cause of concern and confusion for riders and teams and states that it “will be open and transparent to ensure the greatest possible participation and success in the two races scheduled to take place this year.”
2023 Tour of Britain – Stage 8: Margam Country Park to Caerphilly (166.8km) – Luke Rowe, Ineos Grenadiers. Image: Zac Williams/SWpix.com
While British Cycling’s short-term focus is on delivering the two national tours in 2024, it also says that it has a renewed long-term vision for major cycling events in Britain.
The multi-disciplinary vision includes:
Exploring the feasibility of a multi-sport urban event series in Britain, including BMX freestyle.
Building on the success of the UCI Track Champions League and conducting a feasibility study on a new domestic track league concept.
Continuing to support efforts to secure mountain bike and cyclo-cross UCI World Cup rounds in Britain.
Updated: 16.00, 2 February 2024
British Cycling has today announced its ambition to deliver Tour of Britain events for women and men in 2024, as part of what it calls “a new vision for major cycling events in Britain”.
The future of the Tour of Britain and the Women’s Tour had been placed into doubt following the announcement that the organiser of both races, Sweetspot, went into liquidation last month. Cycling Weekly reported that SweetSpot was facing legal claims of almost £1 million. British Cycling had also stripped Sweetspot of the right to run the Tour of Britain over a dispute regarding licence fees.
There have been high profile calls for British Cycling to take urgent action to save both races in recent times. British Cycling’s own elite road racing task force recommended that, “all efforts should be made to ensure delivery of the Tour of Britain and a UCI Women’s World Tour stage race in 2024.” And in our recent podcast interview with task force chair Ed Clancy, he urged that British Cycling “does everything in their power to ensure that [the races] happen.”
British Cycling appears to be responding positively and proactively. “Recognising the vital importance of the events to our teams, riders, and our national cycling identity, our ambition is to deliver two national tours (the Tour of Britain – Women and Tour of Britain – Men) in 2024 and beyond,” it says in its press release today.
The intention is to run the events in the calendar slots previously occupied by The Women’s Tour and the Tour of Britain. Furthermore, we understand that British Cycling hopes the events would have the same UCI status (Women’s WorldTour and 2.Pro respectively) as the Sweetspot-run races.
In effect, this would make British Cycling a major road race organiser in its own right. The governing body says that the events will be delivered through its British Cycling Events subsidiary, which has already delivered events such as UCI Track Champions League rounds in Britain.
British Cycling recognises that “delivering the events in 2024 will be incredibly challenging,” but also says that “we have already commenced positive discussions with partners across all areas of commercial, broadcast, and local delivery, and have been hugely encouraged by the support we have received to date.”
Whilst the signs are encouraging, particularly for the men’s Tour of Britain, British Cycling’s CEO Jon Dutton told Cycling Weekly and other selected media on Thursday that, “We’ve still got a lot of work to do on the Tour of Britain Women, and it is a race against the clock in terms of those June dates, there may have to be some compromises from what has happened before in terms of duration.
“I think what we can say, at this point in time, is that we do not think it will be a six stage race for the Tour of Britain Women [this year] but we’re doing everything we can to make sure it’s a high quality racing experience. So that’s not just about the number of stages, it’s about the terrain, the geography, topography, start and finish, and also delivering it economically.”
Dutton highlighted that there was greater certainty about the men’s Tour of Britain this year. “With the Tour of Britain men, we obviously have more time,” he said. “We’ve done an immense amount of work and it will be an eight stage race, obviously there is more complexity, but we have a level of confidence that we’re able to deliver that and protect the races because it’s so important.”
Whatever happens in the short-term, British Cycling’s ambition beyond 2024 is bold, stating that in its press release that it has “a long-term vision to grow the races and their stature within the global cycling calendar, making the most of Britain’s most iconic and challenging routes to provide unforgettable moments for riders, fans and communities alike.”
“We know just how important our men’s and women’s national tours are to our riders, teams and the national cycling culture. We have acted quickly to safeguard their place on the calendar in 2024, and have bold, long-term ambitions to grow their stature, reach and commercial proposition over the years ahead,” says British Cycling’s CEO Jon Dutton.
British Cycling says that it understands that the uncertainty surrounding the two events has been a cause of concern and confusion for riders and teams and states that it “will be open and transparent to ensure the greatest possible participation and success in the two races scheduled to take place this year.”
While British Cycling’s short-term focus is on delivering the two national tours in 2024, it also says that it has a renewed long-term vision for major cycling events in Britain.
The multi-disciplinary vision includes:
Featured image: SWpix.com
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