Stage Six of The Tour of Britain to take place in county on Friday 16th September

The Tour of Britain, the UK’s largest free-to-watch sporting event, will return to Somerset this September for the fifth successive year, as almost 100 of the world’s top cyclists race across the county.

Stage Six of Britain’s biggest professional cycle race will take place on Friday 16th September, beginning in Taunton and finishing in Wells, taking on a 145 kilometre route that includes the King of the Mountains climb of Cheddar Gorge.

This will be the first stage of The Tour of Britain to have been held entirely within Somerset since 2007, with stages of Britain’s national tour having been held in the county for each of the past four editions of the race, visiting the likes of Frome, Minehead, Glastonbury and countless other towns and villages along the way.

Cllr David Hall, Cabinet Member for Strategic Planning and Economic Development at Somerset County Council, said: “We look forward to welcoming visitors from around the world to Somerset this September. Not only will they see Olympic athletes in action in one of the UK’s greatest “free to view” sporting events, but they will also be able to enjoy the many tourist attractions that Somerset has to offer, including the spectacular Cheddar Gorge and the newly renovated Museum of Somerset.”

Stage Six will begin from East Reach in the centre of Taunton via Durston and Knapp and across West Sedge Moor to Langport and onto the Somerset Levels. After skirting Somerton and Street The Tour of Britain heads for Cheddar and the world-famous climb of Cheddar Gorge.

Once atop the Mendips, The Tour route heads towards Shepton Mallet, completing one and a half laps of a circuit, including the climb of Bristol Hill and allowing spectators at the finish in Wells to see the riders in action twice.

Mayor of Taunton Deane, Cllr Jefferson Horsley, is a keen cyclist – he completed a cycling marathon last year in support of his chosen charities – and is delighted The Tour is coming to Taunton.

He said: “It’s a wonderful sight to witness some of the world’s top cyclists in action here in Taunton Deane. I know the event was a huge success for Wellington last year and I hope that people will turn out and cheer the riders on their way. Taunton Deane is very proud of its sporting heritage – we have a great county cricket club and a splendid racecourse. We can now add The Tour of Britain once again.”

“We look forward to the Somerset stage of The Tour of Britain each year, for the great and enthusiastic crowds and the fantastic scenery through which the race passes,” said Hugh Roberts, Chief Executive of Tour of Britain organisers SweetSpot Group.

“This year will be no different, with what looks like an excellent and challenging route for the stage that will once again put the county on the global sporting map this September.”

The three King of the Mountains climbs will be at Fivehead Hill, on the A378, Cheddar Gorge, and Bristol Hill outside Wells. Three intermediate Yodel Sprints will also draw the fans to hot spots along the route at Langport, Cheddar and on the first passage of the finish line in Wells.

The Tour of Britain begins in Scotland on Sunday 11th September, finishing eight days later in central London with the Transport for London Stage, which for the first time ever includes an individual time trial that will see the battle for the IG Markets Gold Jersey of race leader go right down to the wire.

The Tour of Britain is proud to be partnered with The Prostate Cancer Charity. Don’t forget this summer your chance to follow in the wheel tracks of the professionals and ride stages from The Tour of Britain. Go to www.tourride.co.uk to find out more!

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Notes to Editors

The full list of stages is as follows:

Sunday 11th September Stage One Peebles to Dumfries
Monday 12th September Stage Two Kendal to Blackpool
Tuesday 13th September Stage Three The Stoke-on-Trent Stage
Wednesday 14th September Stage Four Welshpool to Caerphilly
Thursday 15th September Stage Five Exeter to Exmouth
Friday 16th September Stage Six Taunton to Wells
Saturday 17th September Stage Seven Bury St Edmunds to Sandringham
Sunday 18th September Stage Eight a The TfL Stage, Individual Time Trial
Stage Eight b The TfL Stage, Circuit Race
16 professional teams will compete in The Tour of Britain, including UCI World Tour squads Leopard Trek, HTC – Highroad and Sky, and top British teams Endura Racing, Rapha Condor Sharp and Sigma Sport – Specialized.

The Tour of Britain
Re-launched in 2004 after a five year absence from the calendar, The Tour of Britain is now the UK’s biggest professional cycle race and the country’s largest free-to-watch sporting event.

Ranked at the 2.1 level by the UCI, the sport’s governing body, The Tour of Britain attracts some of the world’s top cyclists, including Olympic and World Champions and Tour de France stage winners, to compete on British roads each September.

The 2011 Tour of Britain begins in Scotland on Sunday 11th September, culminating in a central London finish on Sunday 18th September and is partnered by The Prostate Cancer Charity, Yodel and IG Markets.

The Tour of Britain is organised by SweetSpot Group Ltd, a sports marketing and events company specialising in the creation and execution of high quality, commercially successful, annual sporting events.

As well as The Tour of Britain, SweetSpot was responsible for facilitating the Grand Départ of the Tour de France in London 2007, provided logistical support for Honda’s Earth Dreams Tour and are behind the successful launch of The Halfords Tour Series.