Host venues announced for Lloyds Tour of Britain Women 2026
The host venues for the 2026 Lloyds Tour of Britain Women have been revealed with the event starting in Cockermouth on Wednesday 19 August 2026 before concluding in Royal Leamington Spa for the overall finish on Sunday 23 August 2026.
The 2026 edition, part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour, will make a first visit to Cockermouth for the first of five stages that make up this year’s race before embarking on stages in Lancashire, North and Mid Wales, before it reaches its conclusion in Warwickshire, who host the overall finish of the race for the first time.
Cockermouth will open the 2026 women’s race with a challenging route through western Cumbria, starting and finishing in the picturesque market town. Stage two will see the riders travel from Clitheroe through the Ribble Valley to the iconic seaside resort of Blackpool. North and Mid Wales will then host two exciting stages on Friday and Saturday, from Mold to the Great Orme in Llandudno and from Llanidloes to Hay-on-Wye, before the General Classification is decided in Warwickshire, where Royal Leamington Spa will host the start and finish on Sunday 23 August.
Jonathan Day, Director of Events for British Cycling Ventures, said:
“We are excited to be bringing the prestigious Lloyds Tour of Britain Women to these fantastic locations in August. For the first time, there is parity in the number of stages with the men’s race a couple of weeks later, so it is a huge opportunity to create a real festival of cycling, with the women’s race kick-starting a brilliant few weeks of world class road racing.
“We are bringing new hosts and stages in Mold, Llanidloes, and Hay-on-Wye, and it is fantastic to return to previous hosts of the Tour in Cockermouth, Clitheroe, Blackpool, Llandudno and Leamington Spa, bringing real variety to each of the stages as we head across England and Wales.
“On behalf of British Cycling Ventures, I would like to say a huge thank you to our partners across the five stages for supporting the hosting and delivery of this August’s landmark race and enabling us to bring a memorable and action packed five days of world class racing to their communities, spreading the joy of cycling along the route, and inspiring more people to get on a bike and live healthier lives.”
The full list of stages is:
Stage 1: Cockermouth – Cockermouth
Stage 2: Clitheroe – Blackpool
Stage 3: Mold – The Great Orme, Llandudno
Stage 4: Llanidloes – Hay-on-Wye
Stage 5: Royal Leamington Spa – Royal Leamington Spa
This will be the first time Cumberland Council has hosted a modern-day Lloyds Tour of Britain Women’s stage, marking a milestone moment for the region. Cumbria as a county has a vast history of hosting major bike racing, bringing 12 previous stages of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men to the area, the last occasion in 2021.
The town of Cockermouth has experienced the buzz of race day twice before, hosting the men’s race twice in 2015 and 2018, the latter of which was a team time trial.
Another region making history in bringing the women’s race to their communities for the first time is Lancashire, with Clitheroe and Blackpool the start and finish hosts respectively for stage two.
Clitheroe previously hosted the men’s race in 2015, staging the start of a stage that finished in Colne which was the last time the Tour visited Lancashire. The county will also host stages of the Tour de France next summer, when Britain welcomes the Grand Départ.
The promenade at Blackpool has seen some of the greats of cycling race to stunning victories including Sir Mark Cavendish who won the stage in 2012, wearing his rainbow stripes of world champion. Blackpool has hosted three starts and five finishes to the Tour in the modern day, so has a rich heritage in providing a spectacular backdrop to enthralling bike racing.
This will be the first time Mold has hosted the start of a Tour stage and the area’s first time hosting the women’s race, although Flintshire has previously featured in stages of the men’s Tour.
Lotte Kopecky was victorious on the promenade in Llandudno back in 2024, the last time the seaside town hosted the finish of a stage. With the Great Orme serving a hilly final ascent for the lead riders, the region provides both a challenging and spectacular course, bringing back memories of 2021, when Julian Alaphilippe and Wout van Aert battled for victory atop the headland in the men’s Tour.
Having previously hosted stages of both the women’s and men’s races in the region since 2010, Powys will once again welcome exhilarating riding to its roads in September. Llanidloes and Hay-on-Wye, the latter also famous for the Hay Festival – are brand new to hosting start and finishes of the Tour.
Y Trallwng (Welshpool), Powys is also hosting the start of stage three of the Tour de France Grand Départ in 2027 on Sunday 4 July 2027, so the Lloyds Tour of Britain will serve as a perfect appetiser for the region with world-class bike racing this summer.
The fifth and final stage heads to Warwickshire which has a long and strong tradition of hosting the Tour, bringing the women’s race to the county on five previous occasions, it’s last instalment in 2021 with an individual time trial in Atherstone. But this is the first time Warwickshire will host the finish of the race when the General Classification is settled.
2026 will see the return to Royal Leamington Spa which has twice hosted the finish to stage as part of the women’s Tour in both 2017 and 2018, with Australian’s Chloe Hosking and Sarah Roy victorious on those occasions.
British Cycling research, delivered by GSIQ, showed the 2025 Lloyds Tours of Britain brought an overall cumulative economic impact of £62.3 million to the local areas which hosted the ten stages, bringing huge social impact to communities across the country as well.
Further announcements, including the detailed routes for the five stages of the women’s and men’s race, will be announced in the coming weeks.
Interested in volunteering at the Lloyds Tour of Britain? You can register your interest here and play a part in the biggest free to spectate event in the UK.
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NOTES TO EDITORS
Quotes from the local authorities:
Stage One
Leader of Cumberland Council, Cllr Mark Fryer, said:
“Once again, we will be in the global spotlight. This is great news for Cumberland and following on from the announcement that we will stage a finish and a start of the Tour de France next year; this is proof that our area is a prime location for international events.
“We look forward to working with Cumbria Combined Authority and other partners to support the 2026 Lloyds Tour of Britain Women event this summer. This is a massive opportunity to showcase our west coast and inspire our communities to get active and see a world class event on their doorstep.”
Stage Two
Councillor Stephen Atkinson, Leader of Lancashire County Council, said:
“We’re delighted to welcome the Lloyds Tour of Britain back to Lancashire during the summer holidays, giving more residents and visitors the chance to experience world-class cycling on their doorstep.
“With the Lancaster Grand Prix in July, the Tour of Britain Women’s in August and the Tour de France Grand Départ coming in 2027, this is a hugely exciting time for sport in Lancashire. These major events bring communities together, inspire the next generation and showcase the very best of our towns, villages and countryside to audiences across the UK and beyond.
“Residents can enjoy the atmosphere as the race passes through their local areas, with activities for young people running in the lead-up to August. We’re proud to play our part in delivering events like this and the lasting legacy they leave behind.”
Councillor Jo Farrell, Cabinet Member for Communities and Wellbeing at Blackpool Council said:
“We are thrilled to welcome the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women back to Blackpool in 2026.
“With our rich cycling heritage, the race will provide a fantastic opportunity to showcase the town, support local businesses and reinforce our reputation as a destination to host world-class events.
“The event will also provide an opportunity to encourage more people to enjoy the health and wellbeing benefits that cycling can bring.”
Ribble Valley Borough Council leader Simon Hore said:
“The Lloyds Tour of Britain attracts a huge following, some of the world’s most elite cyclists and an international television audience, so is the ideal showcase for the borough’s beautiful countryside and many attractions.
“The event offers businesses and community organisations a fantastic opportunity to get involved, revel in the excitement and make the most of increased footfall on Tour day.
“Stage 2 of the 2015 men’s Tour started in Clitheroe and attracted tens of thousands of spectators, along with a significant economic boost.
“We are really excited to be hosting the women’s Tour and hope our communities will give the event a warm Ribble Valley welcome, while making the most of the opportunities it has to offer.”
Stage Three and Four
Councillor Chris Dolphin, Cabinet Member for Environment, Regeneration, Countryside and Tourism, said:
“This is a fantastic opportunity to put Flintshire in the spotlight and showcase everything our county has to offer. It will bring in visitors from far and wide while creating a real sense of excitement and pride within our communities. We look forward to welcoming competitors and spectators to Mold and helping to make the event a great success.”
Cllr Sharon Doleman, Conwy County Borough Council Cabinet Member for Events, said:
“I’m absolutely delighted to welcome the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women back to Llandudno. This is exactly the kind of major event that showcases everything that’s great about our area – our stunning coastal setting, our warm welcome, and our ability to host world-class sporting occasions. I’m looking forward to welcoming riders, teams, and fans from across the UK and beyond.”
Councillor Glyn Preston, Powys County Council’s Cabinet Member for a More Prosperous Powys, said:
“We are incredibly proud to welcome stage four of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women to Powys. It is a huge honour and gives us a wonderful opportunity to showcase our beautiful county and bring economic benefits to our communities through increased tourism.
“With thousands of spectators expected and worldwide media coverage, it will be a boon for local businesses and the visitor economy, while also inspiring more people to get active and enjoy cycling. As we look ahead to hosting part of the Tour de France’s Grand Départ in 2027, events like this help position Powys firmly on the map as a premier destination for major sporting events.”
Stage Five
Cllr Darren Cheshire, Portfolio Holder for Environment, Heritage and Culture at Warwickshire County Council said:
“This is a fantastic opportunity for Warwickshire to once again showcase itself on the international cycling stage. It’s on a Sunday in the middle of the school holidays, so we really hope that everyone will make the most of what will be a brilliant family-friendly day out, cheering on the riders as they go past. We’re really looking forward to welcoming the riders, teams and spectators for what promises to be a great day of sport.”
About the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women
The Lloyds Tour of Britain is the largest free-to-attend sporting spectacle in the UK and is delivered under the mantel of two races, one Tour of Britain.
The Lloyds Tour of Britain Women takes place annually as part of the UCI Women’s WorldTour, making it one of the most prestigious events in the sport’s global calendar.
The Lloyds Tour of Britain Women features the world’s top teams and riders, attracting tens of thousands of fans to the roadside.
Follow the Lloyds Tour of Britain on X (Twitter), BlueSky, Facebook and Instagram
For further media information about the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women and Men, please contact:
- Gareth Burrell | garethburrell@britishcycling.org.uk