WHY I LOVE…

TOUR OF BRITAIN 5-12 Sep | Great Britain | 2.Pro

We might not have the great mountain ranges of continental Europe, no Alps or Pyrenees, not even the Massif Central or the Sierra Nevada, but the landscape of Britain still provides an excellent backdrop for bike racing. Again, the UK might not have the same road racing history or pedigree as our European neighbours, but the enthusiasm for elite cycling is always clear to see whenever the professional peloton crosses the channel. The Tour of Britain punches above its weight, thanks to its position as the highestprofile stage race in the UK. It is only a 2.Pro race, but the crowds and the attention make it seem a lot more than that. I love it because it seems so twee and lowkey compared to the big European stage races, stages finishing in the kind of market towns that could only be British, with top riders facing the post-stage press in council buildings.

It is also great to watch a race and then be able to go and ride parts of the route comfortably; the Tour of Britain last visited Bristol in 2016, and there are still Strava segments dominated by WorldTour riders.