Tour Of Britain Visits Dumfries – Sunday 15th September
Written by Kevin Rennie on August 21, 2013
The Tour of Britain kicks off its 2013 schedule in Scotland and will put Dumfries and Galloway firmly in the international sporting spotlight.
On Sunday 15 September, Day One of the 2013 Tour (the annual Scottish Stage) takes place between Peebles and Drumlanrig Castle. The route will take in the magnificent Borders scenery and conclude at the picturesque setting of Drumlanrig. The finishing line, in front of the Castle’s splendid backdrop and 8000 spectators, will be an awe inspiring sight.
Dumfries and Galloway Council, with the support of the national events agency, EventScotland, has brought the Tour to our region since 2005, and the investment in the race is now providing a global showcase for South West Scotland.
More than 140 countries will televise the race in highlights format, and Eurosport will cover it live with extended highlights on ITV4 the same evening. There will be widespread coverage in the media which will promote Dumfries and Galloway’s rich cycling heritage and world class mountain bike cycling trails.
Councillor Finlay Carson, Dumfries and Galloway Council’s Events Champion said, “The Tour of Britain is a wonderful sporting occasion that can increase visitor numbers to our region in the short and long term. The Council has punched above its weight in attracting and retaining this event for our area and in developing its impacts together with the Tour and EventScotland. In terms of great live sport and economic impacts, the Tour adds up for Dumfries and Galloway.”
Paul Bush, OBE, Chief Operating Officer of EventScotland said, “The Tour of Britain is now one of the biggest sporting events on our annual sporting calendar and excitement is building towards its 10th anniversary this year. The spectacular scenery of the Scottish Borders and Dumfries and Galloway will provide a fitting first Stage of the 2013 Tour, and I am looking forward to seeing the cyclists race through the grounds of Drumlanrig.“
Public and media interest in the event has grown substantially year on year since the Beijing Olympics in 2008, when Sir Chris Hoy won three gold medals in track cycling. This coupled with the exceptional feats of Sir Bradley Wiggins in 2012, when he became the first British winner of the Tour De France and was victorious in the London Olympics Time Trial have made the Tour an event not to be missed.
