Tour of Britain's South West stages to take place in Devon and Somerset

Devon and Somerset County Councils today announced that they will host another two stages of The Tour, taking in both counties on Tuesday 14 and Wednesday 15 September 2010.

Building on the successful partnership between the two local authorities, the two stages of Britain's premier cycle race will cover around 216 miles (347kms) of Devon and Somerset. The Tour of Britain 2010 takes place over eight days, from Saturday 11 September to Saturday 18 September.

Set against the backdrop of the region’s stunning landscape, the demanding South West stages are expected to prove to be a crucial couple of days, providing another stern challenge for some of the world’s best cyclists.

Stage 4 of The Tour of Britain will start at West Somerset Railway Station, Minehead and will finish 107 miles (171kms) away in the South Devon seaside resort of Teignmouth. This will be the first time The Tour has held a coast-to-coast stage.

Stage 5 is another 109 miles (176 kms) and starts in the West Devon market town of Tavistock. The race will then cross Dartmoor National Park before heading back over the Blackdown Hills to Somerset, and finishing in Glastonbury.

Last year’s two South West stages saw almost a quarter of a million people turning out along the routes to see the racing, generating almost £6 million for the economies of Somerset and Devon. The winners of the two Stages in the South West last year were British rider, Ben Swift, and Norwegian, Edvald Boasson Hagen, both now riding for Team Sky. Boasson Hagen also went on to claim the overall Yellow Jersey for The Tour of Britain 2009.
 

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation, said:“People in Devon and Somerset have really embraced The Tour – the crowds provided a special atmosphere last time round and this is a perfect chance for them to show their support again. It’s also an opportunity for visitors to see what an ideal destination our two counties are for cycling, which is great for our economy, and I’m sure this year’s stages will provide another memorable occasion for spectators and a tough test for the riders.”