The Tour of Britain, the UK’s biggest professional cycle race, got underway in Penzance on Sunday – and Cornwall turned out to show its support.
The entire route from Penzance to Bodmin was lined with people, cheering, clapping and showing the riders a warm Cornish welcome despite the grey skies and drizzle overhead.
The race returned after an absence of 722 days, following the cancellation of the 2020 event due to the pandemic, with a star studded field headlined by Mark Cavendish, reigning world champion Julian Alaphilippe and Tokyo 2020 silver medallists Wout van Aert and Ethan Hayter.
Speaking ahead of the race Mark Cavendish (Deceuninck – Quick-Step) said: “I’m here at Tour of Britain to race at home and get results for Deceuninck – Quick Step. The team we have here at the race is very strong.
“There’s a lot of natural beauty here in the south west and frankly we’ve got good weather, but it’s different racing in Britain on heavy roads and they build fatigue so starting down here puts fatigue in the legs.
Mark Cavendish (left) on the start one of stage one in Penzance Picture: Ben Birchall/PA Wire
The Saint Piran national team pose on stage prior to the start Picture: Ben Birchall/PA Wire
“I think there are chances of victory perhaps in Warrington, perhaps the final stage [in Aberdeen]. There are teams of six so small team numbers, and these are eight stages are different styles of racing, so there are perhaps two chances, but it’s unlikely to be bunch sprints.”
The star studded 107-rider line-up contained five reigning national road race champions and a total of 17 different nationalities represented.
Among the riders was Dan Martin (Israel Start-Up Nation) – who announced on Saturday that he will retire at the end of the season – making the AJ Bell Tour of Britain his final appearance on British roads.
Falmouth welcomes the Tour of Britain Picture: Ian Cocklin/Jeremy Booker
The cyclists make their way along Falmouth seafront Picture: Ian Cocklin/Jeremy Booker
He said before the raec: “Even just arriving in the UK felt special as we so rarely get to race here. It’s been four years since I last did the race and I’m excited to race on the roads that I competed on growing up. It’s always a tough test with a high-quality field and tough terrain. Hopefully we get to experience the crowds that used to come out as pre-Covid it was always one of the best atmospheres we raced with.
“We have a strong team and I’m looking forward to seeing what we can do everyday. Some stages really suit me and I hope we can be aggressive throughout the week. Form is always a bit unknown this time of year after a long season but I felt good at Plouay so we will do our best and enjoy my last Tour of Britain”.
A member of the pubic of watches the team presentations prior to the start Picture: Ben Birchall/PA Wire
Fans wait for the riders at the finish Picture: Ben Birchall/PA Wire
Commenting on the race, AJ Bell Tour of Britain race director Mick Bennett said: “The fact that we were unable to run the Tour of Britain in 2020 was enough to raise the excitement level going into this year’s event. Yet, combined with the truly spectacular and challenging route we’ve designed, the quality of this year’s start list makes me believe that we’re about to witness one of the most exciting editions of the modern race to date.
“We look forward to seeing the roads of Great Britain lined with spectators all the way from Penzance to Aberdeen, and I would encourage everybody planning to attend the race to respect their fellow spectators and, of course, the riders, as well as following local COVID-19 guidance. See you all next week – I can’t wait!”
The start line in Penzance Picture: Jory Mundy/Packet Camera Club
Team Jumbo-Visma's Wout Van Aert wins stage one Picture: Ben Birchall/PA Wire
The race got underway with an opening 180.8-kilometre (112.4-mile) stage through Cornwall from Penzance to Bodmin on Sunday, culminating with a challenging uphill finish on St Nicholas Street outside Bodmin Keep.
Team Jumbo-Visma's Wout Van Aert took stage one to wear the leaders jersey on the podium .
After a second stage in the south west – between Sherford and Exeter in Devon – the AJ Bell Tour of Britain includes two stages in Wales, the first an 18.2-kilometre team time trial to the National Botanic Garden of Wales, and the second a testing 210 kilometres ending atop the Great Orme on the North Wales coast.
The riders negotiate the hill at Falmouth's Swanpool Beach Picture: Mark Quilter/Packet Camera Club
Cyclists heading through Zennor Picture: Arthur Haycock
Stages Five and Six take the race to Cheshire and Warrington, and then across the Pennines from Carlisle to Gateshead with a finish in the shadow of the Angel of the North. The final pair of stages take place in Scotland, between Hawick and Edinburgh, and then culminating with the final stage from Stonehaven to Aberdeen this coming Sunday.
The AJ Bell Tour of Britain is sponsored by AJ Bell, one of the UK’s leading online investment platforms, helping people invest for the long term via ISAs, pensions and general investment accounts. It has a rich history of supporting elite level sport including badminton, cricket, rugby, squash and triathlon.
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