Derby will host a stage start of this year’s Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, as the East Midlands prepares to host stage four of Britain’s biggest professional cycle race between Derby and Newark-on-Trent.

Friday 6 September will see the race beginning from outside Derby Arena, marking the first time that the city has played host to the world’s top professionals on the road.

Usually home to the world’s top track cyclists, this September will instead see 100 of the world’s top road cyclists lining up on the roads outside of the arena in the free-to-attend event supported by the East Midlands Combined County Authority.

Claire Ward, Mayor of the East Midlands, said:

It is great to be welcoming the Tour of Britain back to the East Midlands for the third year running. The race brings real excitement to the region and has the potential to inspire more people to get out on their bikes and enjoy the benefits of cycling.

Events like the Tour of Britain are key to helping our visitor economy thrive and showcase, to a significant international audience, all that Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire have to offer.

From Derby the race will head into Derbyshire, for the first visit of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men since 2015, and then on into Nottinghamshire, a regular host of the national Tour, for the finish in Newark-on-Trent.

Councillor Nadine Peatfield, Leader of Derby City Council and Cabinet Member for City Centre, City Centre, Regeneration, Strategy and Policy, said:

Hosting the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men is a great honour for Derby. This event will boost our local economy, promote and inspire active lifestyles, attract visitors and showcase Derby’s vibrant culture and landscapes on an international stage. We’re looking forward to an unforgettable day of racing and the energy and excitement it will bring to our residents, visitors, businesses and all those taking part. 

Commenting on the announcement, British Cycling Events Managing Director, Jonathan Day, said:

We’re delighted to be bringing top-level racing and the joy of cycling to the East Midlands with this stage linking Derby, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire together thanks to the support of the East Midlands Combined County Authority.

We’re enormously thankful to the local partners who are supporting the delivery of the stage in the East Midlands, as we build on the momentum of June’s successful Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women. We have seen the great support across Nottinghamshire for recent editions of the race, so have no doubt that communities in Derby, Derbyshire and Nottinghamshire will again be out in force to welcome the riders and to make for another memorable stage of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, coming at the end of a huge summer of cycling.

The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men begins in the Scottish Borders on Tuesday 3 September, visiting the Tees Valley and South Yorkshire over subsequent stages. Following the stage start in Derby the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men heads to West Northamptonshire, before concluding in Suffolk on Sunday 8 September after six stages of racing.

More details of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, including the location of the stage four finish and the map, detailed stage timings, and competing teams will be announcing in the coming weeks.