2026 men's Tour of Britain preview | A varied route with tough climbs will reward punchers and sprinters

Autumn has fully arrived, nowhere more so than in the UK, where rain and 'drizzle' is the prevailing weather. While the Vuelta a España is in full swing on (sunny) Spanish roads, another peloton will be in Great Britain from Wednesday, September 2, through Sunday, September 6.

The 2026 Lloyds Tour of Britain promises five days of top-notch racing: from short and steep climbs and cobblestone sections to lightning-fast bunch sprints. IDL Pro Cycling takes an in-depth look at the route, timings and favorites for stage and overall win!

2025: Romain Grégoire
2024: Stephen Williams
2023: Wout van Aert
2022: Gonzalo Serrano

2021: Wout van Aert
2019: Mathieu van der Poel
2018: Julian Alaphilippe
2017: Lars Boom

There are five stages scheduled for this season. While Wales served as the backdrop for the decisive mountain stage last year, this year the organisers are heading to the east and north of England and the Scottish borders. The result? An extremely exciting route with something for everyone.

The opening stage of the Tour of Britain promises to be a spectacular event right from the start. The start and finish are in Lincoln, but it’s the local circuit in particular that will really put the riders through their paces. The riders will have to tackle the famous cobblestones of Michaelgate five times (400 meters at a 9.3% gradient). The steep lower section, in particular, is sure to trigger a barrage of attacks. A power sprint by a small group or a late breakaway seems likely here.

Favorites:
Benoît Cosnefroy (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step)
Alessandro Pinarello (NSN)

Start - 10:30am GMT

On day two, the fast riders will have their work cut out for them in a classic sprinter’s stage. Starting in Boston, the peloton will ride through the Lincolnshire Wolds toward the coastal town of Skegness. With less than 900 meters of elevation gain, this is by far the flattest stage of the week. The wide boulevard along Grand Parade in Skegness is perfect for a spectacular mass sprint.

Favorites:
Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Ethan Vernon (NSN)

Start - 10:30am GMT

Stage three takes the peloton through East Yorkshire for nearly 200 kilometers. Along the way, three climbs in the Yorkshire Wolds await, followed by four 16-kilometer laps in Beverley. The final kilometer to Beverley Racecourse is slightly uphill. A thinned-out peloton or a very strong sprinter will prevail here.

Favorites:
Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Ethan Vernon (NSN)

Start - 10:30am GMT

This year’s queen stage takes place on Saturday. The riders will traverse the rugged Yorkshire Dales, a terrain that isn’t flat for a single meter. With several steep climbs and narrow English roads, this is the day when the general classification is set to be turned upside down. Puncheurs and classics specialists will have to give it their all here.

Favorites:
Benoît Cosnefroy (UAE Emirates-XRG)
Ilan Van Wilder (Soudal Quick-Step)
Alessandro Pinarello (NSN)

Start - 11:00am GMT

The final stage crosses the border into the Scottish Borders. Starting and finishing in Earlston, the riders will face one more treacherous, undulating course. It’s a stage well-suited for a strong breakaway, though the general classification contenders will have to stay sharp until the very last meter to secure their positions.

Favorites:
Olav Kooij (Decathlon CMA CGM
Tim Merlier (Soudal Quick-Step)
Ethan Vernon (NSN)

Start - 11:00am GMT

Not many WorldTour teams are at the start, but they do have some interesting names in the lineup. UAE Emirates-XRG has three potential winners in Benoît Cosnefroy, Felix Grossschartner, and Tim Wellens, though they’ll need to build up a large enough lead in Stages 1 and 4 to ensure the sprinters can’t close the gap in other stages with bonus seconds.

Ilan Van Wilder will be on the starting line for Soudal Quick-Step. After the Tour de France, we’re curious to see how he’ll perform in the races ahead. Dylan van Baarle, too, could go far in a race like this if he’s in good form. On the NSN team, Alessandro Pinarello is an interesting climber who can make a difference in punchy finishes and on the climbs on Day 4.

Pinarello-Q36.5 won’t have the top favorite on its roster, but Mark Donovan might just be able to do a little better on home turf. At Tudor, Yannis Voisard is a climber, but how well will he handle the explosive climbs in Great Britain? We’re highlighting Riley Pickrell as an outsider at Modern Adventure.

The weather in Great Britain can go either way in September. Forecasts call for changeable weather on the opening days, with temperatures around 18 to 20 degrees and a moderate wind from the North Sea. Crosswinds on the coastal stage to Skegness are certainly not out of the question!

You can follow the Tour of Britain live every day on Eurosport / HBO Max and on ITV4 (UK only). The stage finishes are always in the late afternoon. IDL Pro Cycling will provide daily in-depth coverage, reactions, and results!