Live television a success with almost 400,000 daily viewers on ITV4 watching Britain’s biggest and best professional cycle race, the Tour of Britain
![]() |
This year’s Tour of Britain cycle race has been hailed as a resounding success and also enjoyed its largest ever television audience, with almost a million viewers tuning in to watch either live coverage or highlights on each day of the eight day race.
The 2012 Tour was the first ever to be screened live on ITV4, with the channel showing 16 hours of live action, drawing an average of 382,000 viewers across the eight days of the race, as Britain’s Jonathan Tiernan Locke became the first home winner of a Tour of Britain since 1989. In a year of unprecedented British sporting success, The Tour of Britain was no exception, with World Champion Mark Cavendish winning three stages and British teams and riders winning three of four available competitions within the race.
Mirroring the nationwide growth of interest in cycling, daily audiences for The Tour’s one-hour highlights programmes were up just over 12% from 2011, attracting an average reach of 526,000 viewers per evening on ITV4. “Live television brought a new dimension to the 2012 Tour of Britain,” said Alastair Grant, Commercial Director of organisers SweetSpot Group. “Our spectators and guests at finishes could watch the stage unfold, while for the first time viewers at home could also enjoy the spectacle of the race and the battle for the IG Gold Jersey.
“The excellent viewing figures demonstrate the popularity of The Tour of Britain with fans and its continued growth as a major event on the British sporting calendar.”
The Century TV produced coverage of The Tour of Britain was also broadcast live across more than 130 countries, showcasing British scenery to viewers across the world and providing brand exposure for event sponsors to audiences of millions across five continents in 2012.
Report & Features on the Race Here
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Results: Hillingdon Tuesday Night Crits
- Results: Tameside Circuit Races
- Results: Meadowbank Track League
- Results: LVRC CycloPark Circuit Races
- Report: York Circuit Races
- Report/Results: Reading Track League Round 8
- Results: LVRC Circuit Race Champs
- Result: London West DC 10
- Report/Results: Mid-Summers Open Cycle Track Meet
- Result: Lancaster CC Open 10
- Results: George Samuel Memorial Crit Series 3
- Result: British Emergency Services 10 & 25m TT Championships
- Results: Gateshead College Circuit Race Series 1
- Result: Women & Vets Road Race (Scotland)
- Results: Towy Riders Circuit Races
- Results: Solihull CC Youth Races
- Result: Redgrave Road Race
- Results: Colchester Rovers Grass Track Meeting
- Results: Knowsley Youth Omnium
- Photos & Results: Poole Wheelers Youth Omnium
- Report/Result: Junior National Series
- Report/Result: Sunderland Clarion Open 25
- Results: Derby Mercury Open 25
- Result: Ferryhill Wheelers CC 20 mile SPOCO TT
- TT Result: Border City Wheelers 50
- Result: Hartlepool CC 10
- Result: Richmond Park TT
- Result: Women’s CDNW ‘Surf and Turf’ Weekend
- Report: 2013 Circuit of the Fens
- Result: CDNW ‘Surf and Turf’ Men’s Stage Race
- Report/Results/Photos: Omega Winchester Circuits
- Result: CDNW ‘Surf and Turf’ Weekend – Stage 3
- Results: Darley Moor Circuit Races 3
- Result: N & DCA ’15′
- Result: WTTA 100
- Result: Castle Combe Summer Series Week 7
- Result: City Road Club Summer Road Race
- Result: Hugh Dornan Memorial
- Result: Stafford Road Club Grand Prix
- Result: Hemel Hempstead CC 25 mile time trial
Other News on VeloUK
- Blog: Declan Byrne returns after broken back
- News: North Road CC Kenneth Lush Memorial Cancelled
- News: Mike Cummings Glory Ride
- News: Mildenhall Cycling Club Reunion
- Team News: Cavendish leads Quickstep at Tour
- News: CC Hague Cotentin looking for Riders
- News: Shutt VR teams up with Le Mans Drivers
- Team News: CMI Greenover head to Finland
- News: Herne Hill Velodrome Track League
- News: Hannah Barnes Confirmed as Victor in London Nocturne
- News: Mike Cuming in yellow in Korea
- British Road Championships: World Stars heading for Glasgow
- Team News: Clancy’s win for Rapha
- News: Yorkshire Riders in World Record Attempt
- Team News: Cavendish leads Quickstep at Ster ZLM Toer
- News: TLI National Time Trial Championship 2013
- News: Big field for the Tour of the Fens
- Team News: Win for Laura Trott in London Nocturne
- News: Channel 4 to Broadcast StreetVelodrome Series 2014
- News: New Signing for Women’s Team
- News: Women Riders Wanted for Curlew Cup
- News: Top sprint cyclists to go head-to-head in unique Ipswich event
- News: Leicester gears up for Castle Classic bike race
- News: The George Samuel Memorial Hove Park Crits Series 2013
- Event News: London Nocturne This Weekend
- News: SYHA Blog is ‘A Biking Good Read’
- News: Team Sky signing Nathan Earle
- News: Thousands witness a festival of cycling
- Team News: Dauphine – Richie Porte: “It’s different than last year”
- Team News: Win for Boonen in Heistse Pijl
- Sportive: Stockton Velo29-Altura Endeavour (6th July)
- News: Bradley Wiggins unable to race
- News: Endura sponsored team races Dauphiné
- News: Draper Royal London 360′s Rider of the Month
- News: Places still available at Youth Races at Otley
- Team News: Clancy romps to second Tour Series win
- Tour Series: Great comeback by Alex Blain
- Tour Series: Dean Downing denied a win in Torquay
- Tour Series: Yanto Barker – Team prize the priority
- News: Circuit of the Fens National A RR












































