The conference rooms at the London Film Museum at Covent Garden were packed on Thursday night for the launch of the 10th Tour of Britain
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How fitting for a race that has become a classic in British cycling history that the launch of the 10th edition of the Tour of Britain was in the very interesting London Film Museum.
With giant pictures of stars such as Audrey Hepburn looking down on the guests and the entrance from the Piazza in Convent Garden decked out with Tour of Britain memorabilia, the route for the race was announced to riders, sponsors, media and special guests. You can read more about it here and we’ll other features as well soon here on VeloUK.net
Guests arrive for the launch on Thursday evening in Covent Garden with the offer of a free drink or two. Shame I was working and driving!
The day for the staff behind this race started very early and when we arrived at 2pm, there was much to be done in the three rooms the race had taken over. At 6pm, those invited started to filter in and soon a large queue for badges formed with free drinks being handed out.
There were many high profile names from sport such as Nigel Mansell in attendance and riders such as Russell Downing (Netapp-Endura), Aussie Sam Witmitz and Graham Briggs (Raleigh) as well as the 2012 Yodel Sprints winner Pete Williams (IG Sigma Sport). It was so packed, it was impossible to see in the semi darkness just who had turned up but a little later than scheduled, the new BBC TV Cycling commentator Simon Brotherton got proceedings underway.
DJ and councillor from Devon, a very proud British citizen, Stuart Hughes, poses without his union jack suit but with an equally British dressed car and the route map for the important Devon stage in this years’s Tour of Britain.
Sweetspots Hugh Roberts and Mick Bennett were among the speakers as was an old friend of cycling, Guy Elliott who is helping to get a Women’s UCI Stage race off the ground for 2014. Presentations were made including one to two of the race’s biggest cycling fans, the father and son Corkill duo well known for their distinctive hats.
Then Mick went through the route of the race stage by stage (click here to see details of each stage) before a question and answer session with national press for Mick and Hugh and then one to one Q&As with TV and journalists. Whilst all that was going on, there was a lot of talking and drinking going on in another room as guests networked with each other.
Mick Bennett & Hugh Roberts go through their speeches for the evening presentation.
With such an exciting route announced for the 2013 Edition of the race, there was plenty of talk about the racing and cycling in general but the celebration did have an air of uncertainty about it due to the fact Sweetspot, the company behind the country’s biggest cycle race, have been forced to reapply to run the race by British Cycling who own the title “Tour of Britainâ€.
Had the race been run under another name, likes others before it (PruTour etc), they would we understand be having to compete with the likes of ASO Â and others who have been drawn to bid for the race after Sweetspot has made the event so successful since the first one in 2004, culminating in the best ever edition in 2012 where the crowds were the biggest ever according to Race Director Mick Bennett during his presentation later in the evening.
Peter Williams, riding in 2013 for IG Sigma Sport, poses with the jersey he won in the 2012 Tour of Britain.
With so many things these days being owned by foreign companies, let’s hope a British company, Sweetspot, are given the opportunity to continue to do what no-one has ever done since the original Tour of Britain and that’s make the race an annual event to look forward to.
With the route announced, the work will continue in the background on this year’s race but you can be sure with a tougher course and a British ‘10’ mile time trial part of the race, the race will suit a British rider like Alex Dowsett should his team race the event, or perhaps a Tour de France Champion in Bradley Wiggins. Having ‘Brad’ win his home Tour would certainly be a reason for a nationwide party!
We’ll have some exclusive features on the race soon on VeloUK.net
 Hugh Roberts presents race director Mick Bennett with a surprise gift, a watch for his 10 years of making the race a success.
Yanto Barker (UK Youth) and Russell Downing (NetApp-Endura) who have both ridden the event for many years watch the presentation of the race route by director Mick Bennett.
The place was packed for the celebration of 10 years of the Tour of Britain.
Two of the race’s biggest cycling fans, the father and son Corkill duo well known for their distinctive hats were special guests of the organisation at the launch.
James Moss (right) and Pete Williams were two of the riders at the launch of the race.
 Wherever the Tour of Britain is, ToBi is never far away as he shows off the map of the course for 2013
It was a quiet and empty place many hours earlier when Mick Bennett and others went through their speeches
Wouter Sybrandy (IG Sigma Sport) who suffered a heavy crash in the 2012 Tour of Britain but is back racing was brought on stage during the presentation.
Event Website:Â http://thetour.co.uk/home.php
Report, Results & Photos from the 2012 Edition
Other Results on VeloUK (including reports containing results)
- Features, Reports, Results
- Crit Result: Odd Down Winter Series 3
- Crit Result: Velo29 Winter Series 3
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League #4
- Team Feature: Hutchinson/Brother UK
- Events: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series (LVVP #13)
- Events: RCR Fatcreations Road Race
- Team News: DAS Handsling Women’s UCI Team
- News: GB for European Track Championships
- Crit Result: Full Gas Winter Series (Hillingdon #6)
- CX Result: NWCCA CX League Round 9
- CX Result: London/SE CX League Rd 10
- CX Result: Wessex CX League Rd 13
- CX Result: Eastern Cyclo-Cross League 11
- CX Result: East Kent CX League 5
- British Track Championships: Day 3 Report
- Track Results: British Track Championhip Results (para)
- Track Results: British Track Championship Results (M)
- Track Result: British Track Championships Results (W)
- British Track Championships: Day 2 Report
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- Team Feature: Sam Watson’s Journey to WorldTour
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League
- News: GB Team for CX Worlds
- Team News: MAS Design – Fensham Howes Junior Team
- 2022/2023 National Trophy Cyclocross Series Final Standings
- EVENTS: The Peaks 2 Day p/b Giant Sheffield
- TEAM NEWS: Kalas Motip Race Team for 2023
- Team News: Rotor UK Sponsor Team AT85
- CX Result: Leicestershire Cyclo-Cross League Rd 7
- CX Result: Wessex CX League, Rd 12
- CX Result: Eastern Region CX League Rd 10
- Q&A: Vicky Smith (Alba Development Road Team)
- Track Result: First Division Manchester Track League
- Track Result: Premier Division Manchester Track League
- Crit Result: LVYCC Winter Races 1
- British Track Championships Jan 26-29
Other News on VeloUK
- Team Feature: Hutchinson/Brother UK
- Events: Spring MK Bowl Circuit Series
- Events: RCR Fatcreations Road Race
- Team News: DAS Handsling Women’s UCI Team
- News: GB for European Track Championships
- Q&A: Sophie Lankford (Alba Team)
- News: Rayner Foundation’s Gateway Project
- News: Star Names Sign up for Saint Piran 05/03 Team
- News: 58th Perfs Pedal RR
- News: GB Team for CX Worlds
- Team News: MAS Design – Fensham Howes Junior Team
- EVENTS: The Peaks 2 Day p/b Giant Sheffield
- TEAM NEWS: Kalas Motip Race Team for 2023
- Team News: Rotor UK Sponsor Team AT85
- Q&A: Vicky Smith (Alba Development Road Team)
- British Track Championships Jan 26-29
- Event News: Midlands handicap league returns in 2023
- News: Alba DRT Riders Inspired to Step Up
- Race Dates: Track Events 2023
- News: Santini Cycling UK
- News: Wightlink-Wight Mountain CRT Report
- Events: Velo Club St Raphael Time Trial
- Startlist: British Cyclocross Championships 2023
- BRITISH CYCLOCROSS CHAMPIONSHIPS 2023
- News: Brother UK Continues to Sponsor Cycling
- Dave Rayner Fund Supported Riders
- Event news: British Team Cup
- National Trophy: Final Round, Cyclopark
- News: Pedal Club December Lunch Report
- Team News: Velo Bavarian Race Team 2023
- 2023 British teams – Richardson’s Trek
- Team News: 26th Year for Arctic-Aircon RT
- Event News: British Masters RR Champs
- News: West Midlands RR Calendar
- Team News: New cycling team in Central Region
- News: UCI World Masters Track Championships
- 2023: National Under 23, Youth & Junior Road Series
- National Trophy Cyclocross Round 5: Startlist
- News: 2023 British National Road Series
- New Bikes! Ribble’s Reynolds 725 (Gravel bike)