Cycle Aberdeenshire, as Live Life Aberdeenshire’s umbrella brand for cycling within Aberdeenshire Council, are delighted to confirm that they have developed a new set of online resources that will allow the amazing memories of the visits of the Tour of Britian cycle race in 2021 and 2022 to be revisited.
The Tour of Britain, which visited Aberdeenshire and Aberdeen City over its two consecutive editions brought some of the world’s top cyclists to town and villages across the Mearns, Deeside and Donside, through the Garioch and Marr areas and concluded with two epic stage finishes at Aberdeen Beach and at Glenshee Ski Centre, respectively.
Graced in 2021 by former World Cycling Champion Mark Cavendish, who holds the record for the number of stage wins in the Tour de France, both editions brought large crowds to the roadsides, and especially to stunning locations such as the summits of Cairn O’Mount, Queens View and through Royal Deeside to the famous finish line in 2022 at the top of Glenshee.
Now three years on from the last visit of the race to the North East, and after the success of the 2023 World Cycling Championships in Glasgow and across Scotland, a new set of online resources called “Legacy Routes” provides an overview of the Stage routes from both the 2021 and 2022 editions, and links to local options for hospitality and other attractions along the routes.
Given the prominence of some of Aberdeenshire’s most famous climbs, a focus has been placed on the “Aberdeenshire Ascents” programme that was developed by VisitAberdeenshire and North East Adventure Tourism (NEAT), and in addition there are some suggested options for families to enjoy in terms of parts of the routes that are more accessible.
The new resources were formally launched at the Grampian Transport Museum where local racing cyclist Arabella Blackburn from Stonehaven, who races for the Shibden Apex Race Team and the Team GB Development squad, met with the Provost of Aberdeenshire Councillor Judy Whyte, Chris Foy Chief Executive of Visit Aberdeenshire and Councillor Alan Turner, Chair of the Infrastructure Services Committee along with representatives from Aberdeenshire Council, North East Adventure Tourism and Glenshee Ski Centre.
Arabella, who starred in the short film “West to Glenshee” ahead of the 2022 Tour of Britain, recently secured Gold medal success in the Team Pursuit at the European Junior & U23 Track Cycling Championships in Portugal before going on to claim a World Championship title in the Team Pursuit event in the Netherlands.
Speaking after the launch the Provost said “ The visits of the Tour of Britain brought not only elite sport to our area but also economic drivers through visitors across the routes watching some of the best cyclists in the world racing through our wonderful landscape and enjoying what we can offer in terms of local accommodation, our varied food and hospitality providers and our history and geography. I am delighted to see the “Legacy Routes” programme now collate that together into a simple online resource that can be viewed by all and hopefully explored by cyclists of all abilities. Top level cycling made a huge impact on our area, and Cycle Aberdeenshire and our “Bringing the bike to you” programmes from Live Life Aberdeenshire are direct examples of the legacy that the Tour of Britain helped establish.”
VisitAberdeenshire Chief Executive Chris Foy added “The two editions of the Tour of Britain further established the North-east of Scotland’s reputation for hosting, managing and delivering world-class events. A tangible cycling legacy via the online resource will encourage residents and visitors alike to experience our unique landscapes that witnessed such great sporting drama.”
The new resources can be found at:
The photo provided shows the Tour of Britain Legacy Routes being launched at the Grampian Transport Museum in Alford:
L-R are: Chris Foy, Chief Executive VisitAberdeenshire, Will Clarke, NEAT Project Manager, Arabella Blackburn, Councillor Judy Whyte Provost of Aberdeenshire, Councillor Alan Turner, Chair of the Aberdeenshire Council Infrastructure Services Committee, Kelly Wiltshire, Service Manager Economic Development Aberdeenshire Council, and Jim Wood from Glenshee Ski Centre.