Across the full five stages, the riders lining up for this year’s 2026 Lloyds Tour of Britain Men will be in for a challenging contest, taking in nearly 550 miles (900km) with 8,814 metres of ascent.
Lincoln will host the start and finish of the Lloyds Tour of Britain for the first time on Wednesday 2 September, bringing Britain’s biggest professional men’s cycle race to the city for the first time. And the challenging route will take in some iconic locations, including starting in Castle Square and taking in the famous Michaelgate climb.
The following day, the race will roll out from Boston for Stage Two, finishing on the Skegness seafront. Both over 100-miles, the routes take will take riders on an epic tour of the county, taking in the Lincolnshire Wolds and other towns and villages including Market Rasen, Caistor, Woodhall Spa, Horncastle, Wragby, Mablethorpe and Sutton on Sea.
Cllr Natalie Oliver, executive member for children’s and culture at Lincolnshire County Council, said
“Now we know the race routes for Lincolnshire’s two stages, the countdown to this year’s Lloyds Tour of Britain is well and truly on.
“What better place to start the whole of this year’s tour than right in the heart of uphill Lincoln, with a ride out between Lincoln Castle and the cathedral.
“Across both stages, we’re proud to be showcasing the very best of Lincolnshire, from our historic city and market towns, to our beautiful villages, the Wolds and iconic coastline. Events like this not only bring world-class sport to our doorstep, but also provide a real boost for our communities, supporting local businesses and inspiring more people to get involved in cycling.
“We’re looking forward to welcoming riders, teams and spectators from across the country and beyond for what promises to be two fantastic days of racing.”
Stage One – Lincoln
With 113.4 miles (182.5km) including 1,315m of ascent, after a start in historic uphill Lincoln, riders head out into the Lincolnshire Wolds, making their way through Market Rasen before hitting the stage’s most northernmost point, heading through the town of Caistor. The route makes it way past Waddingham, before turning west towards Ingham to head back towards Lincoln.
The riders will go up Michaelgate five times on a final circuit in the city centre after nearly 120km of racing, taking in the laps from the Lincoln Grand Prix, before a finish on Newport.
Stage Two – Boston to Skegness
On Thursday 3 September, the riders will be in for a relatively flat stage between Boston and Skegness, taking on 111 miles (180km) with 873m of ascent. From the start in Boston, the peloton will ride past Coningsby and RAF Coningsby which was the home of the Dambusters during World War Two.
The riders then head through Woodhall Spa, Horncastle and Wragby, before heading east into the Lincolnshire Wolds, intersecting with the stage one course at Binbrook who will experience their second day of racing.
Heading through to Louth, before making their way towards the coastal towns of Mablethorpe and Sutton-on-Sea, the race endures one last hill climb near Langton Hill, before it drops down for a ferocious sprint into Skegness for the decider for who takes the win on day two.
View the routes for all five stages of this year’s Lloyd’s Tour of Britain Men.
Director of Events for British Cycling Ventures, Jonathan Day, said:
“It is always exciting to reveal the stage routes for the Lloyds Tour of Britain, it’s the news fans have been waiting for, so they can plan the best positions to watch the world’s best riders in the UK. We have worked close with all our stakeholders to create a great route which will showcase the best of the regions we are riding through, and a spectacle for all involved.
“The Tours are the largest free to spectate events in Britain, so we are thrilled to be bringing the men’s route from Lincolnshire, through East and North Yorkshire, all the way to Earlston in the Scottish Borders. The route brings unique challenges to the riders, from the roll out in Lincoln on Wednesday 2 September, taking to the roads and highways on the coast, through the countryside, and up some entertaining categorised hills.”
