Škoda King of the Mountains and Sprint Locations Announced

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Škoda King of the Mountains and Sprint Locations Announced

The locations of the ŠKODA King of the Mountains and sprint points for the first stage of the Tour of Britain in Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire, have today been revealed.

For the first time ever the opening stage of the Tour of Britain, which is being sponsored by TotalEnergies, will conclude with an uphill finish, as riders tackle the 9.1-kilometre ŠKODA King of the Mountains to the Glenshee Ski Centre.

That could mean that the stage winner also takes home the ŠKODA King of the Mountains in addition to the yellow jersey and race lead after stage one.

Three other climbs in Aberdeenshire will feature in the competition, at Bennachie Forest, Lord’s Throat, and Suie Hill, while three intermediate sprints in Inverurie, Alford, and Ballater will also serve as popular viewing locations for spectators – the points on offer at each location go towards determining the outcome of the hotly-contested sprint jerseys.

Aberdeenshire Council Leader Cllr Mark Findlater said: “The first stage of the 2022 Tour of Britain, sponsored by Total Engeries, really is shaping up to be truly special. These sprints and climbs will not only challenge the riders but make spectacular viewing for international audiences. It is easy to see why Aberdeenshire is such a cycling destination with locations like these along the route. That is the legacy which this race will generate, ensuing that our part of Scotland is recognised as a top cycling destination for years to come.”

Aberdeen City Council Education Convener, Councillor Martin Greig, said: “It is a pleasure to welcome the locations of sprint points and ŠKODA King of the Mountains to the North East. The cyclists and all involved have our very warm greetings and best wishes for an enjoyable and exciting experience. Our area is an excellent setting for this important sporting event.

“Hopefully the cycling community will come back again and again to enjoy our marvellous local environment. It is especially generous of TotalEnergies to support this opening stage of the Tour of Britain. Their kind sponsorship is much appreciated.”

Alongside the additional route information timings for the stage have also been confirmed, with this year’s Tour due to start from Union Street in Aberdeen city centre at 11:00 on Sunday 4 September.

The 180-kilometre (112-mile) stage is expected to finish at Glenshee Ski Centre between 15:08 and 15:59. An interactive maps and full timetable for the stage is available at tourofbritain.co.uk/stages/stage-one

The points on offer at the ŠKODA King of the Mountains locations is dependent on the severity of the climb: category one peaks offer 10 points for the winner down to one for the 10th-placed finisher, while category three climbs have four, three, two and one point up for grabs.

Former winners of the jersey include 2010 Tour de France champion Andy Schleck (2006) and Grand Tour stage winner Thomas De Gendt (2009). Britain’s Jacob Scott (Wiv SunGod) has won the competition in the past two editions of the race (2019 and 2021).

The prizes on offer at each sprint remain consistent throughout the race: three, two and one point are awarded to the leading trio across the line, all of which go towards the sprints classification. Those riders will also receive bonus seconds of the same denomination.

This competition also features an equally-illustrious roll of honour, with British cycling legend Mark Cavendish (2007) and two-time Tour of Britain champion Edvald Boasson Hagen (2008) among its previous winners. Scott, who hails from Holmfirth in West Yorkshire, is also the defending champion in this competition.

The sprints classification at the Tour of Britain is currently without a sponsor and is one of a number of commercial partnership opportunities available at the 2022 race. For more please visit sweetspotgroup.co.uk/partnerships/

Six teams – a Great British national squad, the country’s four leading domestic squads (Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling, Saint Piran, TRINITY Racing and Wiv SunGod) and Team Qhubeka – are confirmed to race, with the remaining squads to be announced shortly.

ITV4 will continue to broadcast live flag-to-flag coverage of every stage and nightly highlights show, allowing fans in the UK to watch wherever they are. The race will also be shown in over 150 countries worldwide, thanks to the event's partnerships with Eurosport and the Global Cycling Network

While spectators can watch all the action by the roadside for free, race day hospitality packages offering guaranteed prime views of stage starts and finishes, as well as unforgettable experiences featuring Tour de France stage winner Dan Martin are now available. Visit sportsbreaks.com/Cycling and destinationsportexperiences.com/Cycling/Hospitality for more information.

Last year's star-studded race was won by Belgian rider Wout Van Aert (Team Jumbo – Visma), with reigning world road race champion Julian Alaphilippe finishing third overall. According to research by Frontline, a roadside crowd of over one million spectators resulted in the Tour of Britain generating £29.96m of net economic benefit for the UK economy.