THOUSANDS of spectators will flock to Shaw and Crompton in September after confirmation of the route for the 2019 Ovo Tour of Britain.
Five-time Olympic champion, Sir Bradley Wiggins, is a former winner of the iconic 1,250 kilometres race taking place from Saturday, September 7-14.
The eighth and final leg of the Tour is a 165 kilometres circuit of all Greater Manchester’s 10 boroughs including Tameside and Oldham, on September 14.
It includes a climb out of Delph up Grains Road and will feature one of the day’s toughest climbs for a King of the Mountains challenge.
Then entering Shaw at the top of Grains Bar, riders will cross Oldham Road before descending Buckstones Road which promises to be one of the fastest parts of the race all day.
The field will then turn left heading into Shaw and turning up Rochdale Road as the riders leave Oldham and enter Rochdale.
With the UCI Road World Championships taking place in Harrogate a week later many of the top teams including Ineous (ex-Team Sky) will be in attendance.
The 2019 Tour of Britain starts in George Square, Glasgow, on September 7 and take riders through the south of Scotland, England’s North East and North West and the Heart of England before the overall finale for the first time in Manchester on September 14.
“This year’s race is a quintessentially British affair, combining the short and sharp climbs we’re famed for with finishes for the world’s best sprinters and hopefully a few surprises along the way,” said race director Mick Bennett.
“But more than ever this year’s OVO Energy Tour of Britain route has been designed with spectators in mind.
“From visiting three iconic cities and including uphill finishes that are guaranteed to create drama to using finishing circuits, this year’s race will play a big role in helping Britain become a great cycling nation.”
British Cycling chief executive Julie Harrington said: “The OVO Energy Tour of Britain goes from strength to strength each year and has captured the hearts and minds of the nation to become a staple in the British sporting calendar
“We share with all our event partners a determination that these events should not only showcase the very best of cycling at the highest level but provide necessary inspiration for people across Great Britain to get out on their bikes.”
ITV4 will once screen live free-to-air coverage flag-to-flag of each stage in the UK, along with a nightly highlights programme of the best of the action.
The full route is:
Stage 1, Saturday 7:
Glasgow to Kirkcudbright, 201.5km
Stage 2, September 8:,
The Scottish Borders Stage, 166.4km
Stage 3 September 9:
Berwick-upon-Tweed to Newcastle-upon-Tyne, 182.2km
Stage 4 September 10:
Gateshead to Kendal, 171.5km
Stage 5 September 11:
The Wirral Stage, 174km
Stage 6, September 12:,
The Worcestershire Stage, TBA
Stage 7 September 13:
Warwick to Burton Dassett Country Park, 186.5km
Stage 8 September 14:
Altrincham to Manchester, 165km