World's Top Cyclists to Race Through Robin Hood's Bay, Whitby and Sandsend

Stage 2 of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain will visit the Yorkshire Coast in September.

The world’s top cyclists will tackle a challenging stage through the Tees Valley this September, as the route for stage two of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men, from Darlington to Redcar has been unveiled.

Starting from West Row below the Darlington clock tower, the 152-kilometre (94 miles) route will head through Middleton St George, Yarm and Stokesley, before crossing the Cleveland Hills and heading through the North York Moors National Park to the coast at Robin Hood’s Bay via a series of short, sharp climbs.

Turning north via Whitby, the stage climbs Lythe Bank and takes in Loftus and Brotton, before a loop sees the peloton tackle the iconic Saltburn Bank twice, the latter ascent coming within the final ten kilometres of racing.

The race returns to the coast at Marske-by-the-Sea, with the final three kilometres along Coast Road to the finish by Zetland Park in Redcar.

Commenting on the route, Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men Race Director Rod Ellingworth said;

"The tough opening to this year's Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men intensifies on stage two with another day that is relentless up and down as we cross the Tees Valley and the North York Moors. Two years ago, the climbs in this area provided decisive in the race and we are sure they will once again shape the overall general classification battle.

"Thanks to our partners across the Tees Valley, in Darlington, Stockton, and Redcar & Cleveland, plus stakeholders in North Yorkshire, we have put together a route that showcases some fantastic moorland and coastal scenery, while also providing plenty of opportunities for attacking and entertaining riding. I've no doubt that the closing kilometres of racing, with the double ascent of Saltburn Bank, will be among the most spectacular in this year's Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men."

The peloton will depart from Darlington 15 years on from the last stage start in the town (2009), heading east through Middleton St George and onto Eaglescliffe and Yarm.

The day’s intermediate sprint, where riders can win time bonuses and points towards the sprinter’s jersey, comes as the race reaches Stokesley, before winding its way into the North York Moors National Park.

Heading east the route tackles a series of unclassified climbs around Commondale, Castleton, and Danby, before the first King of the Mountains climb above Ugglebarnby, averaging over 8% across its one-kilometre length.

The race then drops down to Robin Hood’s Bay, to tackle the second climb rising up Raw Pasture Bank from almost sea level at an average of 7.5%, the route then heading on north past Whitby Abbey to descend into the famous North Yorkshire seaside town.

Stage two’s final categorised climb is the 1.7 kilometres of Lythe Bank, averaging 7.7% as it ascends from Sandsend, ultimately taking the race past Staithes into Redcar & Cleveland, where it will tackle a lap made up of many of the roads used in June’s Lloyds Bank British National Road Race Championships, won by Ethan Hayter (INEOS Grenadiers).

The lap allows for two ascents of Saltburn Bank, the 300-metre climb averaging over 14%, but including a section at 22% could prove a springboard for the winning move, with the top inside the final ten kilometres.

After over 2,500 metres of ascent in the stage, the final few kilometres alongside the North Sea between Marske-by-the-Sea and Redcar will offer some respite, but the exposed nature of Coast Road means that the wind could pose a final challenge to overcome in the home stretch to Zetland Park.

The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men begins in the Scottish Borders on Tuesday 3 September. Following the Tees Valley stage the race heads to South Yorkshire, the East Midlands, and West Northamptonshire, before concluding in Suffolk on Sunday 8 September after six stages of racing.

Relaunched in 2004 after a five-year absence from the calendar, the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men is British Cycling’s premier road cycling event, held annually across six stages in September. In 2024 the race celebrates the 20th edition in its modern incarnation.

The free-to-watch sporting spectacular features Olympic, world and Tour de France champions, and attracts a roadside audience of over 1m spectators. Live coverage of the race is shown daily in the UK on ITV4, in addition to around the world. The Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men is part of the UCI ProSeries, making it one of the most prestigious sporting events in the sport’s global calendar.