United Kingdom 02 Sep – 06 Sep 2026 Class 2.Pro – Stages – UCI ProSeries
The 2026 Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men (UCI 2.Pro) features five stages across England and the Scottish Borders. The route covers approximately 910.3 kilometers with 8,814 meters of elevation gain.
Stage Program & Route Overview
| Stage | Date | Course | Distance | Profile |
| Stage 1 | Wed, Sep 2 | Lincoln – Lincoln | 182.5 km | Hilly (5 laps including Michaelgate climb) |
| Stage 2 | Thu, Sep 3 | Boston – Skegness | 181.1 km | Flat (Sprint stage) |
| Stage 3 | Fri, Sep 4 | Hull – Beverley | 194.1 km | Hilly (Yorkshire Wolds & local circuits) |
| Stage 4 | Sat, Sep 5 | Helmsley – Leyburn | 165.8 km | Medium Mountain (2,699m elevation gain) |
| Stage 5 | Sun, Sep 6 | Earlston – Earlston | 156.1 km | Hilly / Scottish Borders (2,236m elevation gain) |
Key Stage Highlights
- Stage 1 (Lincoln Circuit): The opening stage features five laps of a city-centre finishing circuit centered on the 400-meter, 9.3% cobbled Michaelgate climb.
- Stage 2 (Lincolnshire Coast): The flattest day of the race, heading through the Lincolnshire Wolds and coastal areas before a likely bunch sprint along Skegness Grand Parade.
- Stage 3 (East Yorkshire): Runs along the coast and through the Yorkshire Wolds, ending with four laps around Beverley Racecourse.
- Stage 4 (Queen Stage): A critical GC day starting in the North York Moors National Park and traversing the Yorkshire Dales into Leyburn, boasting the highest total climbing of the race.
- Stage 5 (Scottish Borders): The grand finale features challenging climbs up Redstone Rig and Duddy Bank in the Lammermuir Hills before returning to Earlston.
The history of the Tour of Britain is a complex one, with several different events and names over the years. It is not a single, continuous race but rather a series of cycling events that have served as the premier stage race in the United Kingdom since the end of World War II.
Early Origins and the British League of Racing Cyclists (BLRC)
The roots of the Tour of Britain trace back to a dispute during the Second World War. A race in defiance of the National Cyclists’ Union (NCU), the governing body at the time, led to the formation of a rival organization, the British League of Racing Cyclists (BLRC). The BLRC sought to create a British equivalent of the Tour de France.
- The first multi-day stage race in Britain was the Southern Grand Prix in 1944.
- The Victory Cycling Marathon was held in 1945 to celebrate the end of the war, and was won by a French rider, Robert Batot. This set the precedent for a major, international stage race in the UK.
- From 1946 to 1953, the race was known by various names, including the “Brighton to Glasgow” race.
The Milk Race (1958-1993)
The most enduring and well-known iteration of the race was the Milk Race, which began in 1958. Sponsored by the Milk Marketing Board (MMB), it became a popular annual sporting event.
- The Milk Race was initially an amateur-only event, but it was later opened to both amateurs and professionals from 1985 onwards.
- It lasted for 35 years, making it the longest-running cycling sponsorship in the UK.
- The Milk Race ended in 1993 when the MMB was dissolved due to the Agriculture Act 1993.
The Kellogg’s Tour and PruTour (1987-1999)
In the late 1980s, a professional-focused rival to the Milk Race appeared: the Kellogg’s Tour of Britain. It ran from 1987 to 1994, attracting high-profile international riders. Following the Kellogg’s Tour, there was a brief revival with the PruTour in 1998 and 1999.
The Modern Tour of Britain (2004-Present)
After a hiatus, the modern Tour of Britain was established in 2004. Organized by SweetSpot Group, it has become a centerpiece of the British sporting calendar and a significant event on the international cycling scene.
- The 2004 edition was a five-stage race and has since grown to typically eight stages.
- The race has attracted top-tier professional teams and riders, including Mark Cavendish, Bradley Wiggins, Wout van Aert, and Julian Alaphilippe.
- The modern Tour of Britain is a part of the UCI ProSeries, attracting a high level of competition.
The Women’s Tour of Britain
A women’s version of the race, originally called The Women’s Tour, was launched in 2014. It quickly gained prestige and became part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour. In 2024, the women’s race was rebranded as the Tour of Britain Women, sharing the name with the men’s event.
Results
The results for Stage 1 of the Tour of Britain (Lincoln to Lincoln, 182.5 km) finished on the cobbled ascent of Michaelgate:
- 1st Place: Lewis Askey (NSN Cycling Team) – 04:02:44
- 2nd Place: Filippo Ganna (Netcompany INEOS Cycling Team) – + 0:02
- 3rd Place: Tim Wellens (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) – + 0:02
…
- 49th Place: Noe Ury (Team Storck – MRW Bau) – + 03:30
Stage 2 of the Tour of Britain (Boston to Skegness, 181.1 km) ended in a fast-paced sprint finish. Below is the summary of the top finishes and key rider results:
Top 10 Stage Finishers
- 1st: Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step) – 03:53:55
- 2nd: Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM Team) – + 00
- 3rd: Sam Bennett (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) – + 00
- 4th: Matteo Moschetti (Pinarello-Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team) – + 00
- 5th: Ethan Vernon (NSN Cycling Team) – + 00
- 6th: Riley Pickrell (Modern Adventure Pro Cycling) – + 00
- 7th: Rick Pluimers (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) – + 00
- 8th: Matteo Trentin (Tudor Pro Cycling Team) – + 00
- 9th: Jake Stewart (NSN Cycling Team) – + 00
- 10th: Brody McDonald (Modern Adventure Pro Cycling) – + 00
Other Featured Rider
- 47th: Noé Ury (Team Storck – MRW Bau) – + 01:43
Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men 2026 — Stage 3 Results
- 1st: KOOIJ Olav (Decathlon CMA CGM)
- 2nd: MERLIER Tim (Soudal – Quick-Step)
- 3rd: KÄLLBERG Axel (Lucky Sport Cycling Team)
Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men 2026 — Stage 4 Results
- 1st: BOL Cees (Decathlon CMA CGM) — 04:00:39
- 2nd: WELLENS Tim (UAE Team Emirates-XRG) — + 03
- 3rd: CHRISTEN Fabio (Pinarello-Q36.5) — + 21
Stage 5 Results
| # | Rider | Team | UCI Points | Time |
| 1 | Nils Politt | UAE Team Emirates-XRG | 25 | 03:33:28 |
| 2 | Florian Vermeersch | UAE Team Emirates-XRG | 15 | + 12 |
| 3 | Filippo Ganna | Netcompany INEOS Cycling Team | 10 | + 18 |
Final General Classification (GC)
| # | Rider | Team | UCI Points | Time |
| 1 | Tim Wellens | UAE Team Emirates-XRG | 250 | 19:35:32 |
| 2 | Lewis Askey | NSN Cycling Team | 170 | + 42 |
| 3 | Jasper Stuyven | Soudal Quick-Step | 140 | + 01:03 |
