The Tour of Britain has been cancelled after discussions with British Cycling, regional stakeholders, sponsors and partners of the competition agreed to host the same route in 2021.
Tour of Britain’s decision to cancel the event is a result of the global health pandemic which has caused a halt to live-sport, whilst also putting restrictions in place regarding social distancing and public gatherings.
A Tour of Britain spokesperson explained: “Across the UK there are significant doubts around the potential to stage large-scale public events and gatherings such as the Tour of Britain as early as September and while any form of social distancing remains in place and there isn’t a vaccine available, people’s health and safety must come first.
“Local authority partners across Britain remain under considerable pressure with their priorities rightly elsewhere and so would not be able to contribute fully to the planning of the event, whilst also not being in a position to maximise the social, economic and community benefits that hosting a stage of the Tour of Britain brings to their area.
“Holding the Tour of Britain behind closed doors or with extensive social distancing rules would not only be immensely impractical, but would rob our venues and spectators of these opportunities and go against everything that cycling, as a free-to-spectate and accessible event, stands for.”
As alluded to prior, Tour of Britain’s 2021 event will feature the same route as this year’s cancelled race to ensure that the towns and cities selected will still be able to benefit from the occasion next year.
Moreover, organisers of the race are working with the venue’s local authorities to explore possibilities the area’s can benefit from the Tour of Britain this September without the event taking place.
Next year’s event, which will feature its first-ever visit to Cornwall, is provisionally scheduled for 5 – 12 September, 2021, nevertheless, the official date will be confirmed by the UCI, cycling’s international governing body.
