THIS SEPTEMBER... TOUROFBRITAIN.CO.UK
Stage 6 Bath to Hemel Hempstead Friday 12 September
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History of the Tour of Britain
1945
Started as a victory marathon
1958-93
Millk Race opens to amateurs only up to 1984, from professionals and amateurs from 1985.
1987-1994
Kelloggs Tour- takes place in addition to the milk race, but only opens to professional riders.
2000-2003
No Tour
2004-present Tour of Britain is introduced. Biggest professional cycle race of the British Sporting Calendar When does the Tour of Britain take place? • The tour takes place between 7th-14th September. How many teams take part? • There are 17 teams taking part in this year’s Tour of Britain. Which city is hosting The Tour • Liverpool will host the tour for the first time since 2008. How fast can the cyclists go? • The cyclists can go up to 48mph
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With our toughest summit finish yet, an individual time trial in London and several longer stages, this year’s Tour of Britain has a varied and testing route that will present opportunities to a variety of riders, (Mick Bennett, Tour Director)
The Teams
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AN Post Chain Reaction; Bardiani CSF; Belkin Pro Cycling; BMC Racing; Garmin Sharp; Giordana Racing Team; Great Britain; IAM Cycing; Madison Genesis; Movistar Team; MTN Qhubeka; NFTO Pro Cycling; Omega Pharma Quick-Step; Rapha Condor JLT; Team Giant Shimano; Team NetApp Endura; Team Novo Nordisk; Team Raleigh; Team Sky; and Tinkoff Saxo.
How do the teams work? Each of the teams in The Tour of Britain will pick their six rider line-up from their squad, which for the UCI ProTour teams may be up to 30 riders. Generally teams will approach the race with riders in designated roles, such as a team leader to aim for a place as high as possible on the general classification, a sprinter to target stage wins, a specialist climber for the hillier stages and several designated helpers or domestiques.
A domestique is a rider whose sole aim is to help their team leaders. Their role includes sheltering their leaders from the wind, fetching food and drink, to making sure their men are in the best possible position during the race, particularly important when approaching the finish. They also have to be ready to give up their bike if one of their leaders suffers a mechanical problem, such as a puncture. Domestiques do not share the glory of their team leaders, but they are vital to any team wanting to win to wear the IG Gold Jersey. On each stage, the domestiques will work to protect the team leader and ensure their leader gets to the line first. If their leader does acquire a leader’s jersey it is their role to make sure the leader keeps the jersey too. When it comes to the sprinters, the entire team, including the team leader, will work together to get the sprinter to the finish line first with a lead out train. Of course thanks to the way the race unfolds with attacks and breakaways, one of the domestiques may find themselves elevated into the role of team leader thanks to their sporting performances.
Where does The Tour of Britain fit in? All professional road cycling events are ranked by the UCI, the sport’s governing body. The Tour of Britain is a 2.1 level event. The first number, 2, identifies it as being a multiday, or stage, race. Single-day events are designated with a 1. The ranking of an event plays a part in which, and how many, teams can ride and how much prize money is awarded, amongst other things. The next level up for stage races is 2.HC before one final category for the three three-week Grand Tours of France, Italy and Spain. Domestically The Tour of Britain is the UK’s only UCI stage race, and currently one of just three UCI, or international, races in Britain. The Tour sits at the top of the domestic calendar organised by British Cycling, the sport’s governing body in the UK, which features road events right up from the grass roots level to leading series for professional teams and riders such as the Premier Calendar and Tour Series. To find out more about all of the road races in Britain, visit the British Cycling website. http://www.britishcycling.org.uk/ Internationally the Tour of Britain is a part of the season long UCI Europe Tour, made up of single-day and stage races, in which professional teams from around the world compete. Famous one-day races such as Het Nieuwsblad in Belgium, the Giro del Piemonte in Italy and the new Prudential RideLondon - Surrey Classic and historic stage races like the Tour l’Avenir in France and the national Tours of Portugal, Austria and Luxembourg all sit on the Europe Tour, which begins in January and ends in October. Alongside the UCI Europe Tour sit the Oceania, Asia, Africa and America calendars, all one level below the UCI World Tour, which includes the world’s biggest races such as the Tour de France.
Currently there are four types of cycling team that are allowed to take part in the UCI Europe Tour, and thus The Tour of Britain. These are: UCI ProTeams - the Premier League of cycling competing in all of the World Tour events, such as Sky Pro Cycling or Cannondale Pro Cycling. UCI Professional Continental Teams - The second tier of elite teams from all around the world, including many teams familiar from the Tour de France, such as Sojasun or Team Europcar, and home interest in the Anglo-German Team NetApp Endura. UCI Continental - This level is made up of a record 154 different teams from 46 countries for the 2013 season. Six of them are British squads who compete domestically in events such as The Tour Series, as well as internationally in Europe. National Teams - Finally the national team of the nation are allowed to compete, so in the case of The Tour of Britain that is Great Britain. The red, white and blue jerseys have been a familiar sight in The Tour over the past decade, giving many riders such as Ed Clancy, Alex Dowsett and Mark Cavendish their first taste of their national Tour. Riders taking part in races on the various continental circuits and the World Tour earn themselves points, depending on where they finished in a particular race, which are then tallied giving the rider an individual ranking, as well as a ranking for his team and for his country on the UCI Europe Tour and World Ranking tables. The rider in the first place of the individual ranking of the continental circuit at the end of the season will be crowned the winner of his circuit. To find out more about road cycling around the world, visit the UCI website.
What do the jerseys mean? Within the Friends Life Tour of Britain there are four leaders’ jerseys, each presented following every stage to the rider leading that competition’s classification. The Friends Life Yellow Jersey Awarded to the rider leading The Tour of Britain overall, the Friends Life Yellow Jersey is what every rider in The Tour seeks to pull on. The Friends Life Yellow Jersey is easily identifiable in the peloton, showing you who leads The Tour of Britain. Past Winners: Sir Bradley Wiggins, Lars Boom, Michael Albasini
AN Post Chain Reaction
BMC Racing
Bardiani CSF
Belkin Pro Cycling
Garmin Sharp
Giordana Racing Team
Chain Reaction Cycles Points Jersey Awarded to the most consistent finisher in the Friends Life Tour of Britain, the Chain Reaction Cycles Points Jersey is Britain’s equivalent of the Tour de France’s green jersey. The first 15 riders across the finish line are awarded points on a 15 down to 1 basis, with the rider who has accumulated the most points so far wearing the blue and white jersey, sponsored by Chain Reaction Cycles, the world’s largest online bike store. Past Winners: Martin Elmiger, Boy Van Poppel, Geraint Thomas SKODA King of the Mountains Jersey Awarded to the best climber in the Friends Life Tour of Britain, riders battle for points at three or four designated SKODA King of the Mountains climbs on every road stage of The Tour. Ranked in one of three categories according to their difficulty, the first riders across the summit win points with the rider who has accumulated the most points wearing the SKODA King of the Mountains jersey.
Great Britain
IAM Cycing
MTN Qhubeka
Madison Genesis
Movistar Team
NFTO Pro Cycling
Omega Pharma Quick-Step
Rapha Condor JLT
Team Giant Shimano
Team NetApp Endura
Team Novo Nordisk
Team Raleigh
Team Sky
Tinkoff Saxo
Past Winners: Angel Madrazo, Kristian House, Johnny Hoogerland Yodel Direct Sprints Jersey Each road stage of the Friends Life Tour of Britain features three intermediate Yodel Direct Sprints, where points are awarded towards the Yodel Direct Sprints Jersey, supported by Yodel, one of the UK’s leading delivery companies. Highly popular with fans, riders battle it out to be first across the sprint line to claim points, and also bonus seconds to be taken off their overall race time. If the overall lead for the Friends Life Tour of Britain is tight, expect the battle for the time bonuses to be intense, just as in 2007 when an intermediate sprint helped decide who won The Tour overall. Past Winners: Angel Madrazo, Peter Williams, Pieter Ghyllebert
Bath Stage Route overview Distance of stage 205.6kms / 127.9 miles
on
r Sev ive
A44
8
Epwell
Paxford
n er
2
Corse
A424
Ri
A436
Northleach
Stage profile A4173
A433
Rive
is Is
Tubney
M4
15
A3102
Box
River Av o n
Hilperton
Calne
Worton
Bath
14
Axford
Jub
West Down
A330
ve
Andover
A343
Wick Hill
M3
Ashe
7
Ebble
Tes t n vo
River
A338
Farley
A34(T)
Rive r
rA
e
A30
Wyke
Ri v
Wilton
Wonston
Porton
A350
Great Ridge
A320
A321
A340
Milston
M25
A332
A330
10 A3090
3
4a
A3(T)
Fleet
A339
A322
Farnham
e
A360
River
Windsor
10
al r P ang an nC Kenn e t & Av o
A340
A343
ilee
9b
A327
13
A40
hame er T Riv
Bix
Basingstoke
Pewsey Down Devizes Tilshead
rF rom e
A4010
Upton
A338
A345
Kop Hill
Beaconsfield
A4074
Rivar
Pewsey
6
Beedon Blewbury Reading
Newbury
A365
Chesham
A40
Didcot
A338
Hemel Hempstead
Nashleigh
A4185
Baydon
nnet R iver Ke
Thame
A4142
A417
Swindon
Bierton
OT MOOR M40
Chinnor Hill
ck rO
WantageA4130
A4311
A505 A418
Ri
205.6km / 127.9miles
Hemel Hempstead
191.1km / 118.8miles
171.9km / 106.9miles
Nashleigh
Kop Hill
169.7km / 105.5miles
161.6km / 100.5miles
Princes Risborough
Chinnor Hill
119.8km / 74.5miles
Blewbury
29.8km / 18.5miles
Devizes
Bath
0.0km / 0.0miles
Bath
A361
@TourofBritain #tob2014
r so
A5120
A4146
Dunstable Hemel Hempstead
Princes Risborough
Ford
Abson
R
Latton
Malmesbury
m
/ToBcycling
me er Tha Riv
Tetbury
A429
iv
Witney
Coln
Nash
s
100
er
A421
y Ra
Noke
Wytham
h
Wortley
200
Bibury
v
300
ac
Ri
rn hu rC ve Ri
Hyde
Cam
Le
A4095
A6
Milton Keynes
Bicester ver Ri
River W i
ver
h
13
400
Ri
A435
de
se
rG
A413
A4421
10
Gly
A424
rus nd
500
ver
e m
ve
A46 A38
Ri v e
Ledwell
n lo
Brackley
A422
River Swere
A34(T)
Ford
A38
A509
A43(T)
E er Riv
Stage 6 Bath to Hemel Hempstead Friday 12 September
Berrow
Oxhill
Ou
Evesham
R
re
A4104
at
Av
EDGE HILL
Ri v e r
A38
A287
Beech
A286
Bordon
Ropley
Alfold
A272
A283 A272
Riv
er Ro ther
© Crown copyright Ordnance Survey 2014
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Scenery
“
The route will again showcase some fantastic scenery, and combine major British cities with charming and picturesque towns and villages, as well as testing climbs, all of which will make for a memorable Tour. (Mick Bennett, Tour Director)
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The Circus Designed by John Wood the Elder, in 1754 and completed in 1768 under the direction of his son John Wood. It has been said that the Circus is joined to the Royal Crescent by a key-line that represents the sun and the moon. The Royal Crescent is the same circumference as Stonehenge (Histories UK, 2011) Milson Street First built in 1762 and originally designed as a grand house by Thomas Lightholder The Guildhall: Current building was built by Thomas Baldwin in 1775 Pulteney Bridge Built by Robert Adam by William Pulteney and was attempted to connect central Bath land to the other Bank of the River Avon The Roman Baths The Roman Baths are one of the largest tourist attractions in the South West. The temple and bathing complex still flows with natural hot water.
Wellsway 2.5 miles long Brassknocker Hill 900m long, Average gradient -13%
Fact Files Bradley Wiggins Fact File:
Born: 28th April 1980 in Ghent: Belgium Started Racing at the age of 12. 2013: Awarded a knighthood for his service to cycling on the New Year’s Honours list. Tour of Britain: 1st Overall 2012: Olympic Gold Medallist: Individual Time Trial First Briton to win the Tour de France.
Bradley was named as BBC Sports Personality of the Year. 2008: Olympic Gold Medallists: Individual Pursuit and the Team Pursuit. 2004: Olympic Gold Medallists: Individual Pursuit. Olympic Silver Medallists: Team Pursuit Olympic Bronze Medallist: Madison 2000: Olympic Bronze Medallist: Team Pursuit
Mark Cavendish Fact File
Born: 21st May 1985 in Douglas, Isle of Man Keen cyclist, Rode a BMX from a young age Sprint Speed: 48.47 Mph 2012: Became the first ever cyclist to win the final stage of the Champs Elysees four years in concession. 2011: UCI Road Race World Champion First ever British Cyclist to win the Points Classification at the Tour De France Mark was as named Sports Personality of the Year. Awarded an MBE for his services to sport in the New Year’s Honours List. 2010: First Briton to hold the green jersey for two consecutive days
To find out more about cycling opportunities in Bath and North East Somerset go to: www.bathnes.gov.uk/love2cycle
Activities: How your bike works
Have a go at designing your own 21st century Bike. What features will it have?
My bike is called the
My bike has special features, it can
Do you know‌ Which parts of your bike make it move? Which parts of your bike make it change direction? Which parts of your bike make it stop? Which parts of your bike are there to make you comfortable? Which parts are there for safety reasons? Which things can you do in an emergency? How do modern bikes make it easier for you to use them How did they get so good?
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