Stage routes announced for landmark 2026 Lloyds Tour of Britain Women
The riders competing in the 2026 Lloyd’s Tour of Britain Women will face the longest race in the event’s history, with a total distance of almost 650km, across the five stages.
Battling through 635.8km (395 miles) of roads with a total ascent of 8895m, the riders will travel through the picturesque counties of Cumbria, Lancashire, Flintshire, Denbighshire, Conwy and Powys, before crossing the finish line in Warwickshire.
The momentous route is set to challenge even the best of riders, taking in some of Britain’s most beautiful landscapes such as the Lake District National Park, the Lancashire Fells and the Great Orme, while passing iconic landmarks attractions such as the castles of Clitheroe, Conwy and Kenilworth, and famous destinations like Blackpool, Hay-on-Wye and Royal Leamington Spa
Jonathan Day, Director of Events for British Cycling Ventures, said:
“Announcing the route is one of the key milestones in the build-up to the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women, as it gives riders, teams and fans their first real insight into how this year’s race could unfold. We have put together a course that provides opportunities for a range of different rider types to try and challenge for the title, ensuring every stage has the potential to shape the overall outcome.
“Beyond the sporting challenge, the route reflects our ambition to bring elite women’s cycling to the diverse communities across Britain. Each stage will showcase a different part of the country and provide fans with the chance to experience world-class racing on their doorstep. We are excited to see the race come to life and to welcome spectators to what promises to be a fantastic edition of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women.”
Stage 1 – Cockermouth to Cockermouth – Wednesday 19th August 2026
Cockermouth will host the start and finish of the 2026 Lloyds Tour of Britain Women on Wednesday 19th August. This marks the first time the town has hosted the women’s race.
The first stage is the longest of the race, as the riders will compete for the green jersey through 158.9km of Cumbrian countryside, including 1,913m of ascent.
The peloton will head towards Whitehaven, through Workington and Maryport. Along Britain’s Energy coast, taking in the views of the Irish Sea, that could also bring crosswinds on exposed sections. The route then makes its way through Silloth – which includes a 700m section of cobbles – to Wigton, climbing up the hills on the outer borders of the Lake District National Park.
The riders will finish on a 26km circuit around Clints Crags, passing Watch Hill and Ruddings Hill. The first leader of the general classification will then be decided at the finish line back in the centre of Cockermouth.
Stage One – Strava route map
during Stage 2 near Clitheroe.
Stage 2 – Clitheroe to Blackpool – Thursday 20th August 2026
The 110.5km Lancashire stage on Thursday 20th August starts off in Clitheroe within the Ribble Valley. The riders will then head towards a challenging set of hill climbs in the Forest of Bowland National Landscape, including ‘Waddie’ or Waddington Fell and the iconic Nick o’ Pendle ascent (1.9km at 7.6% average gradient) of Pendle Hill for a stage that includes 1,392m of ascent.
The route then flattens out and heads west towards the coast, passing through Whalley, Longridge, and Broughton, before heading south at Singleton towards Lytham St. Annes.
The riders will then endure a sprint finish onto Blackpool’s famous promenade, finishing alongside the iconic Mirror Ball, the perfect place to watch the world’s best cycling stars dazzle on the Lancashire roads.
Stage Two – Strava route map
Stage 3 – Mold to The Great Orme, Llandudno – Friday 21st August 2026
Stage three signals the first time Mold has hosted the start of a tour stage. Although it is the shortest stage of this year’s race (104.7km), it boasts an overall ascent of 1927m, with teams set to tackle the steep hills of North Wales on Friday 21st August, including the summit finish on the Great Orme
Through Clwydian Range, riders will pass the prominent Iron Age hillforts of Penycloddiau and Moel-y-gaer, with a stunning backdrop including Yr Wyddfa on the horizon, before travelling through Trefnant, Gwytherin, and Llansannan.
The peloton will then take a sharp turn north, veering towards the coast of Llandudno, proceeding through Tal-y-bont and Caerhun.
Passing Conwy Castle, a UNESCO-labelled World Heritage Site built by Edward I in 1287, the route diverts along the coast once more towards the final climb at the Great Orme, having circled the promontory first on Marine Drive.
The finish will bring back memories of the 2021 Tour of Britain Men in which Wout van Aert and Julian Alaphilippe tussled for the victory, although this time the women’s peloton will take on the fearsome zigzags of Saint Tudno’s Road to the summit. The 2.5km climb averages 6.1%, but features pitches of almost 15% that will create a spectacular finale to the leg and is sure to shape the overall battle in the general classification.
Stage Three – Strava route map
Stage 4 – Llanidloes to Hay-on-Wye – Saturday 22nd August 2026
Departing from Llanidloes on Saturday 22nd August, stage four will see the riders power through 138km of the Welsh countryside, on the Tour stage with the most ascent in 2026 (2,484m).
The route heads south to Rhayader before circling through the beautiful Elan Valley at the heart of the Cambrian Mountains. Here, the riders will tackle the toughest climb of the stage (5.3km at an average gradient of 5%, with a middle section hovering around the 10% mark for a kilometre). The climb will set the tone for the day, putting the riders under early pressure and softening the legs before a demanding, undulating remainder of the stage.
Passing back through Rhayader and heading east next, the climbs continue for the peloton, as they journey through the undulating hills around Nantmel, Crossgates, and Bleddfa.
At Knighton, the riders go south, crossing the River Teme and advancing through Norton, Gladestry, and Painscastle, to head towards Hay-on-Wye – the site of the popular Hay Festival that draws in hundreds of thousands of booklovers annually. Welsh crowds will hope to see a fairytale in action at the finish line, as the story of the Lloyds Tour of Britain nears its conclusion.
Stage Four – Strava route map
Stage 5 – Royal Leamington Spa to Royal Leamington Spa – Sunday 23rd August 2026
Finally, the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women reaches its conclusion for 2026 in the county of Warwickshire. Royal Leamington Spa, where the stage starts and ends, is no stranger to hosting a Tour finish, hosting the final stage in both the 2017 and 2018 edition as Chloe Hosking and Sarah Roy won respectively. The 2026 final stage is the flattest of the race (1,386m), promising an exhilarating sprint finish at the end of the for 123.8km that will decide who takes home the crown.
The stage will first head north, passing Kenilworth Castle, which was built after the Norman Conquest in 1066 and featured in several prominent historical events including being used as a Lancastrian base during the Wars of the Roses.
Following Fosse Way south, the route crosses the M40, passing through Wellesbourne and Shipston-on-Stour, before progressing north for the final time towards the finish in Royal Leamington Spa. First the peloton will take in a succession of Warwickshire climbs, including Sun Rising Hill (900m at 10% average gradient) and the ascent of Burton Dassett Hills Country Park (700m at 9% average gradient), which was a summit finish in last year’s men’s race.
The winner of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women will be crowned once the riders have crossed the finish line next to Jephson Gardens.
Stage Five – Strava route map
Interested in volunteering at the Lloyds Tour of Britain? You can register your interest here and play a part in the biggest free to spectate event in the UK.
Find out more information on the Lloyds Tour of Britain pages, here.