Tour of Britain 2016

Thought this deserved a thread of its own, especially as forumite @taogeogheganhart is riding for the third consecutive year.

I'm looking forward to how Adrien Costa does in his first race with Etixx.

There is, as usual, a London stage on the 11th, on a circuit in Westminster (I think).

good work @andyp,
Final Stage 8 - Sunday 11th Sept
16 laps, go Tao go!!!!!!!!!

also Wiggins, Cavendish, Doull, Cummings, Dowsett, Dibben, Poels, Stannard, Viviani on the Tour.

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Isn't there a Crit around Bristol too? Or did I dream that

No I didn't, Stage 7, looks epic

Stage 6(?) to Dartmoor is the only proper 'summit' finish which is disappointing.

I think two circuit stages make it seem a bit amateur as well. Decent line up but I don't think the organisers are making the most of the terrain available in the UK.

I'm not sure they ever do, they follow the money basically. But yes two city circuits in the last two stages isn't great. The Bristol one does include the nasty climb from Portway up to the Downs, which was the finish of one of the stages two years ago, which Kwia won, so should cause some gaps

@Chadders81 look at stage 2 Carlisle to Kendal no summit finish but a couple of decent climbs with Winlatter and the Struggle.

I think you're missing the point if you want set piece stages to decide the race.

Last year's race was won on a what was billed as a transition stage. The hard roads, small teams and unpredictable weather are what makes the race, not a summit finish or a time trial.

I suppose you're right but the racing when the TdF was in Yorkshire was amazing. I know it has its own race now but would be nice to see that sort of terrain use more.

Having said that, the Vuelta has arguably the best terrain and scenery and is very much the third grand tour.

Do you even Giro?

Nice triskellion design for the course

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I'm going up to watch it pass through my home village in Cheshire on Tuesday.

Few snaps from Glasgow today

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My neck of the woods. Holmes Chapel to be precise.

Enjoy!

Did you go to the comp?

Yeah - you?

This'll be weird if it turns out you've banged my sister.

I've definitely not! Class of 2004 (6th form).

Are you Harry Styles?

My sister in law's ex boyfriend's sister went to her year 11 prom with him, so basically yeah.

Cracking stage today, hope the ITV4 highlights do it justice.

The tv cameras missed this though.

Nuts stage today. Our roads are so bloody narrow.

Wonder what got under Cav's collar...

There's some photos on Twitter of some of the road painting on the Struggle. Taking the piss out of Cav is one thing, making derogatory comments about his wife is quite another.

If he saw those then his anger would be easy to understand.

Stood on my doorstep watching all the hoardings and banners going up in Congleton town centre.
Off to meet the littlests school chums in a bit, they've organised to follow the peleton out of Cong. Nice, may try to out sprint a gang of 10 year olds.
As for the terrain being used, come have a look at cat n fiddle and the roads down to Bosley off the moor.

Why did Cav stop and berate a spectator?