Women's Tour of Britain 2026 set to thrill Lancashire fans - here’s what you need to know!
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The Lloyds Women's Tour of Britain kicks off next week, promising thrilling action through Lancashire's scenic routes
The Women’s Tour of Britain begins next week - and it promises to be an occasion not to be missed for Lancashire’s cycling fans.
The big event has attracted a world-class field with some of the best female endurance riders primed to compete.
Nine of the world's top 10 ranked teams and 13 World Tour squads will battle it out against each other during the five-stage race, which begins on Wednesday, August 19 and finishes on Sunday, August 23.
Stage One of the race will start in Cockermouth, in Cumbria, and the finishing line will be Royal Leamington Spa, in Warwickshire, for the fifth and final stage.
Stage two will see the riders begin in Clitheroe before they compete around some of Lancashire’s most picturesque landscapes before concluding on Blackpool's iconic promenade.
Stage Two route
Stage Two of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women 2026 takes the race through Lancashire, travelling from Clitheroe in the Ribble Valley to the famous seaside resort of Blackpool.
The stage marks the first visit of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women to Lancashire and will showcase some of the county's most famous beauty spots.
What to expect
After leaving the Ribble Valley, riders tackle Waddington Fell and the iconic Nick o' Pendle before descending towards the Fylde Coast through Whalley, Longridge and Lytham St Annes. The stage concludes with what promises to be a thrilling sprint finish beside Blackpool's famous Mirror Ball.
How to get there
Due to potential road closure and high traffic on the day, spectators are being advised to consider public transport when travelling to Clitheroe or Blackpool.
Clitheroe’s railway station and bus interchange is close to the town centre, making it perfect for catching the stage start.
While at the stage finish, Blackpool’s North Railway Station is in close proximity to the town centre, with the promenade tram network providing easy access to the stage finish Mirror Ball location.
You can check the timetable or purchase tickets here.
Planning to stay over?
If you are planning to stay over in Blackpool there are plenty of B&Bs, guest houses or hotels to choose from, with several new hotels that have opened in recent years, including the Pleasure Beach Boulevard Hotel, the Premier Inn near North Pier and the Holiday Inn next to Blackpool North railway station.
How to watch
There are a host of places along each day’s route that offer a great spot to watch the race from, as the cities, towns or villages the riders pass through get into the spirit of the event.
Particularly good vantage points are the categorised mountains locations and intermediate sprints, as crowds line the roads to see the riders race to the line to pick up invaluable points as they go in search of one of the race’s jerseys. All the designated mountains and sprints are clearly marked on each stage map.
Any spectator making their way to the start or finish of any stage will have the chance to get up close and personal with some of the biggest stars the sport has to offer – we’d recommend bringing a pen or two for autographs!
Television viewers can watch live coverage of the race on HBO Max.
What time does each stage start and finish?
The start time for each stage differs but traditionally they begin between 10 and 11am, and finish mid-afternoon, often between 2pm and 3pm.
Exact start and approximate finish times for each stage will be listed on each day’s timetable, located on the relevant stage page of the website and available closer to the event.
How will spectators know when the race is passing through?
Although there is no way of guaranteeing when the race will be passing a particular point, https://www.britishcycling.org.uk will produce a place-by-place guide of where the riders are likely to be along each stage according to a slow, normal and fast pace.
This is just an estimation and can be thrown off by extreme weather conditions or a crash, for example. As the race approaches the ETAs will be published on each individual stage page.
Who is competing
All four British UCI Continental teams will race the 2026 Lloyds Tour of Britain Women. DAS–Hutchinson, Handsling Alba Development Road Team, O’Shea Red Chilli Bikes, and Smurfit Westrock Cycling Team are among 19 teams announced for the five-stage race .
New Zealander Ally Wollaston returns to defend the title she won last year against a strong British contingent, including Millie Couzens and Flora Perkins who make their debuts at the event.
Ride the route
Ride the lancashire stage of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women just days before the world's best cyclists take on the same roads.
Starting from 8am on Sunday August 16, participants will tackle a route inspired by the official Clitheroe to Blackpool stage, taking in some of Lancashire's most scenic roads, challenging climbs and spectacular countryside.
With two route options available, riders can choose the challenge that's right for them:
Long Route - 110km - 1,638m elevation.Take on the full Ride the Route experience and tackle the key roads and climbs that will help shape the outcome of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women.
Short Route - 72km - 1,101m elevation. A shorter but equally rewarding route, offering riders the opportunity to experience the atmosphere and scenery of the event while taking on a more accessible distance.
The cost is: Long route £49, short route £39, Under-16s £25.
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The other stages
Stage One
Stage One will start and finish in the historic market town of Cockermouth, opening five days of world-class racing across England and Wales.
The opening stage will take riders on a challenging route through western Cumbria before returning to Cockermouth for the finish, providing a spectacular backdrop to the start of Britain's biggest women's cycling race.
Stage Three
Stage Three heads into North Wales, starting in Mold before finishing atop the iconic Great Orme in Llandudno.
The stage combines spectacular coastal scenery with a challenging uphill finish, making it one of the most anticipated days of racing in the 2026 edition.
Stage Four
Stage Four takes riders through the heart of mid-Wales, travelling from Llanidloes to Hay-on-Wye.
With the general classification battle entering its final stages, the roads of Powys will provide a challenging and scenic setting as riders compete for crucial seconds ahead of the final day.
Stage Five
Stage five in Royal Leamington Spa, where the overall winner of the race will be crowned.
Starting and finishing in Warwickshire, the final stage will bring five days of world-class racing to an exciting conclusion as riders battle for stage honours and the general classification title.