The Tour of Britain Grand Finale

More than 100 professional cyclists are warming up for the most prominent event in the cycling calendar. Starting in Scotland, the long and arduous Tour of Britain will end with a gruelling final leg on the Isle of Wight.

By the end of the race, they’ll have cycled more than 1,300km in eight consecutive days and made their way down the country from Aberdeenshire, through the Midlands and down to the south coast.

The Tour of Britain will be held over eight stages; that’s one stage of up to 191km per day, and will see world-renowned road cyclists tackle hills, sprints and of course – the Great British weather.

Competing in teams of six with the full, 20 team line-up set to be announced on 3 September, just a day before the race begins, the riders will be put through their paces in this iconic event which has attracted the likes of Sir Bradley Wiggins, Chris Froome, Mark Cavendish and Geraint Thomas in previous years.

Stage 8 – the grand finale – promises to be a dramatic end to the tour as competitors navigate the Isle of Wight’s notoriously hilly terrain. From Ryde, they’ll head to the far west via Bembridge, Sandown and the rural villages of Chillerton and Brighstone to be within touching distance of the finish line before the route turns north up to Cowes and back down to Ventnor through Newport. The final push will see the riders sweep across the iconic Military Road to finish at The Needles.

Each stage of the race begins with quite the build-up. Fans will have the opportunity to meet the cyclists, get autographs, have their photos taken and watch the riders take part in an obligatory sign-on ceremony on the main stage. There’ll be plenty of family entertainment, areas to check out cycling equipment and lots of places to eat and drink both in the town centre and along the Esplanade.

Make sure to also check who’s wearing which jersey as this will tell you who is holding the lead and who has the most points in categories such as King of the Mountains (hill climbs) and sprints.

With the route covering so much of the Island, there’ll be plenty of opportunities to watch the action multiple times. Keep ahead of the race and catch the scenes at one of the Island’s main towns or show your support at a quieter spot along the rural parts of the route. The riders will appreciate your cheers and encouragement as they climb the hills and give their all to the sprints – you could even make a banner to cheer them on!

If you choose a hilly spot, you’ll be up close to the battle for King of the Mountains points where riders compete for this prestigious jersey. These are often great spots for spectators because riders will be cycling at their slowest and you’ll be right up close to the action.

Alternatively, find a flatter part of the route to see some sprint action when the main peloton will be trying to close the gap on the breakaway group.

After a cumulative 1,373km of riding during the eight-day event, the final 20km will take place along the iconic Military Road; the beautiful long stretch offering stunning panoramic views of the English Channel. The route will most certainly be unforgettable for the riders as they take on the incline up to Tennyson Down before reaching the very last 400m of Stage 8 – the final stretch of the whole tour – which will present them with an average gradient of nearly 10% – that’s the toughest ending to any Tour of Britain in modern history!

It’s bound to be a thrilling end to a gruelling journey so make sure you head to The Needles to catch the final push. There will be a special ceremony to mark the end of the tour and riders will be presented with overall winner jerseys and awards.

The Race Village at The Needles will also provide plenty of things to do, stalls to browse and places to eat and drink while you enjoy what’s set to be one of the biggest sporting events the Isle of Wight has ever hosted.

Head to our dedicated Tour of Britain page to download the route map, read expert route reviews and browse itineraries.

• A version of this article first appeared in Wightlife Magazine