Men's Tour of Britain: Everything you need to know

Thousands of spectators are expected to line the route of the 2026 Men’s Tour of Britain cycling race.

Starting on Wednesday 2 September, riders will race through Lincolnshire, East Yorkshire and North Yorkshire before finishing in Scotland on Sunday 6 September.

Cities, towns and villages are hosting events to celebrate the occasion and welcome the peloton as it passes through.

Here is everything you need to know about the English section of the race, including routes, times and where to watch.

Riders will cover 565 miles (910km) across five stages, including the challenging Michaelgate climb in Lincoln.

The race will start in Lincoln for the first time before heading through the Lincolnshire Wolds, Market Rasen, Caistor, Waddingham and Ingham, then returning to the city for the finish.

Stage two runs from Boston to Skegness via Woodhall Spa, Horncastle, Louth and the Lincolnshire coast, while stage three takes riders from Hull to Beverley through Withernsea, Hornsea and Skipsea.

The race then heads into the Yorkshire Dales for stage four from Helmsley to Leyburn, before finishing at Earlston, Scotland, for stage five.

Full stage details can be found Men's Tour of Britain: Everything you.

In Lincoln, the tour village at Lincoln Castle will be open from 09:00 to 17:00 BST, with entertainment taking place throughout the day.

Activities will also be held in the Cornhill area between 10:00 and 16:00.

The race will start on Wragby Road East at 10:45. Lincoln Castle will screen live coverage from 10:30 to 15:30, with riders expected to tackle the renowned Michaelgate climb from about 10:30.

The atmosphere at Michaelgate is expected to be incredible as cyclists fight their way up the 656ft (200m) incline.

The stage is due to finish in Castle Square at about 14:45, with podium presentations scheduled for 16:30.

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Shops, homes and monuments in Caistor have been decorated [Lincolnshire County Council]

Celebrations are also planned in Caistor, near the halfway point of the stage.

The town is hosting a competition for the best cycling-themed shop, home or garden display, while 40 donated bicycles, painted in the colours of the Lincolnshire flag, have been placed along the route.

Visitors can also expect a street food market, special Lincolnshire-themed treats and live music.

Jim Togher, 65, one of 10 volunteers helping organise the festivities, said he hoped the event would bring the community together and inspire more people to take up cycling.

“There’s something for everybody,” he said. “Hopefully, we’re trying to make it that colourful that they want to come back.”

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Spray-painted bikes are on display all over Lincolnshire [Lincolnshire County Council]

Boston will host a day-long festival of cycling and family entertainment from 09:00 until 16:00, with live race coverage shown on a big screen in the Market Place.

The Big Yellow Bus will bring street entertainment and circus skills to the town. There will also be food vendors and cycling stalls.

Meanwhile, Louth will have its own tour village in the Cornmarket and Market Place from 10:00 until 16:00 where spectators will also be able to watch the race on a big screen.

In Skegness, festivities will run from 11:00 until 19:30, featuring circus acts, street parties and cycling-themed stalls.

Sand in Your Eye will also create a large piece of sand art on the beach between 15:30 and 19:30. The team got in the spirit with a sand art poster to promote the race.

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The artwork took about three-and-a-half hours to create during a promotional day in August [Sand in Your Eye / East Lindsey District Council]

A free cycling festival will be held at Hull’s East Park to celebrate the race.

Spectators will be able to watch the start of the stage before taking part in a range of activities, including cycling around the park.

Hull City Council said a limited number of bikes would be available for children and adults to hire, but visitors are being encouraged to bring their own. Adaptable bikes will also be available.

Meanwhile, in Beverley, North Bar will be a focal point for celebrations as stage three finishes nearby on Beverley Westwood.

The area will be decorated with themed bunting, while 250 hand flags will be given to spectators.

The town council is also encouraging businesses around North Bar to join the celebrations by decorating their own frontages.

The tour village will be located on Beverley Westwood and will feature a mountain bike show, aerial displays and free cycling sessions.

Beverley Town Mayor Cheryl Giles said: “Whether you are a cycling fan or simply want to experience the excitement of a major sporting event coming through our town, it will be a wonderful spectacle.”

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Stage four the race will head through the Yorkshire Dales National Park [Getty Images]

The penultimate stage of the race will see riders head out into North Yorkshire, setting off from Helmsley at 11:00, before finishing in Leyburn at about 16:45.

In Helmsley, there will be a big screen showing the race coverage, stalls and activities, a fancy dress competition, live music and street performances.

People are also being encouraged to decorate their shops and homes with a red, white and blue cycling theme.

A Ride the Route sportive will also be taking place on Sunday 30 August, allowing cycling enthusiasts to ride the official Tour of Britain routes before the professional riders.

Starting and finishing at Thirsk Racecourse, riders will be taking on one of three routes. Finishers will get a medal and a goodie bag.

Entries need to be booked in advance, but it will be a good opportunity to see an event ahead of the professional race.

In Leyburn, Wensleydale Railway will be operating a special park and ride train service all day.

North Yorkshire Council leader Carl Les said: “This is a marvellous opportunity for towns and villages along the route to come together, celebrate and highlight everything that makes our county such a special place to live and visit.”

It is the first time the peloton makes its way to Earlston, though the Borders has a rich tradition of hosting stages of the race.

More information about stage five of the Tour of Britain can be found Men's Tour of Britain: Everything you.

During each stage, rolling road closures will be put in place for a short time before the race passes through.

The roads will be closed for about 30 to 40 minutes as riders pass.

Police vehicles and National Escort Group motorcyclists will manage the route and control traffic.

Exact routes and timings can be found on the Tour of Britain website.

A small number of longer road closures will also be in place around the start and finish of each stage. These will operate only on race days.

Local councils encourage motorists to plan journeys in advance and allow extra travel time.

Listen to highlights from Hull and East Yorkshire or Lincolnshire on BBC Sounds, watch the latest episode of Look North.

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