Tour of Britain cycle race to come to Brighton

The Tour of Britain cycle race is coming to Brighton in September – for the first time in 24 years.

Stage seven of the eight-day race will end in Madeira Drive on Brighton seafront after competitors have climbed Ditchling Beacon on their way from the start in Camberley, Surrey.

The stage is due to take place on Saturday 13 September, passing through Horsham, Haywards Heath, Uckfield, Eastbourne and Newhaven on its way to Brighton.

The final route from Camberley to Brighton will be published in the summer. The day after the Brighton stage, the tour ends in London. The whole eight-day tour starts in Liverpool this year.

Race director Mick Bennett said: “We are delighted to be bringing the Tour of Britain to Sussex and Brighton for the first time in the race’s modern history.”

The event was revived in 2004 five years after last being held. It was known for many years as the Milk Race and the Kellogg’s Tour.

Mr Bennett added: “While the finish in Brighton is definitely one for the sprinters, the South Downs and Ditchling Beacon in the closing kilometres will pose a real challenge to them and set up what I am sure will be a fantastic finish on the seafront.”

Councillor Ian Davey, deputy leader of Brighton and Hove City Council and a keen cyclist, said: “It’s so apt that a stage of the race should finish in a city which has seen an explosion of cycling in recent years.”

Councillor Davey, who leads on transport for the Green-led council, said: “As a city we’re really improving cycling facilities so now I’m hopeful the Tour of Britain will inspire even more people to take up cycling for fitness, recreation and transport.”

Last year Olympic champion and Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins won the tour.

The race will be coming to Brighton 20 years after the town hosted the finish of one of the early stages of the 1994 Tour de France.