Tour Of Britain Plans On Track Amid Funding Squeeze

Organiser of the Tour Series and Tour of Britain makes public call for Women's Tour sponsorship, sparking fears for marquee race, reports Tom Thewlis

- Tom Thewlis

Planning for the Tour of Britain is still on track, Cycling Weekly understands, following concerns in the British scene that the race might suffer cutbacks – like its two sister races the Women’s Tour and the Tour Series have in recent weeks – due to funding issues.

Last week, Women’s Tour organiser SweetSpot announced the race “urgently requires additional commercial income” for this year’s edition.

Alongside the route announcement, its statement read: “As well as the title sponsorship of the event, three of the race’s four prestigious jersey classifications (leader, mountains, and best young rider) remain available, while individual partnership packages (including naming rights) have been launched for the first time for selected stages.”

The Women’s Tour’s funding issues come in the wake of its sister race series, the Tour Series, being cancelled for 2023 due to financial constraints.

A significant chunk of the money for both the Women’s Tour and the Tour of Britain comes from local councils, which have seen their budgets hit by rising inflation and increasing demand for services.

News of the Women’s Tour’s troubles sparked concern within the British scene around whether the Tour of Britain, SweetSpot’s other major event, which runs to eight stages, could also end up suffering cuts.