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Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team ready for maiden Tour of Britain
The 2023 Tour of Britain starts this weekend and it will traverse the picturesque landscapes of the United Kingdom from Sunday, September 3rd, to Sunday, September 10th, spanning eight thrilling stages that promise to be nothing short of epic.
1 September 2023
Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team will line-up with a strong and motivated six-rider squad, spearheaded by local rider Mark Donovan. The 24-year-old Brit, who finished 9th on GC of the 2021 Tour of Britain is thrilled to be back racing on home roads.
“It would be great to win a stage amongst us and I think me and Damo can aim to get a top-10 in the GC at least.”
“I’m really excited for next week and racing at home. The course looks interesting, on paper perhaps not as hard and selective as in previous years but there are a couple of really hard days. Like always in the UK the weather will play a big role and if bad weather rolls in it will be a tough eight days. I’m looking forward to the final two stages, particularly the last one which features three hard climbs. I think as a team we’re super motivated and we can do a good result. It would be great to win a stage amongst us and I think me and Damo can aim to get a top-10 in the GC, at least. I got a top-10 on the GC a few years ago and it would be great if I can improve on that!” said Donovan.
Damien Howson will further strengthen our Swiss-registered team GC ambitions. The Aussie, who already tasted victory this season and put in a great performance at Vuelta a Burgos last month, will aim for a good overall classification alongside teammate Donovan.
Both leaders will be supported by Polish rider Kamil Malecki and American Joey Rosskopf. For the sprinting stages the team will look to Italian Nicolò Parisini and Polish Szymon Sajnok, both of whom will have a free role and will look to seize the opportunities in the flatter stages.
The Grand Depart kicks off this Sunday, in Altrincham, and will take on a challenging terrain en route to the vibrant city of Manchester for the 163km opening stage.
The excitement continues to build as Wrexham eagerly awaits to host the second stage which, with just 109km in length will be the second shortest point-to-point road stage in Tour Britain history to date. From there, the peloton will shift gears, embarking on the third stage commencing in Goole and culminating in the beautiful town of Beverley in an expected bunch sprint.
Stage four takes us back to the heart of Nottinghamshire, where the peloton will race 166km through the iconic Sherwood Forest before racing on to the historic town of Newark-on-Trent for yet another sprint finish. The tour then heads for the coast for stage 5, offering a seaside adventure that starts and finishes in the charming town of Felixstowe, marking the midpoint of the race and the longest stage of this edition at 192km.
The action-packed journey continues as the riders make their way to Southend-on-Sea, where the sea breeze will provide both respite and challenge. The sixth stage concludes in the lively town of Harlow, setting the stage for a crucial weekend of General Classification (GC) battle.
Stage seven presents a daunting challenge as cyclists tackle the formidable Gloucestershire hills, navigating the course from Tewkesbury to Gloucester. This stage will be the first of the decisive GC weekend, where every second counts in the race for the overall winner.
The climactic grand finale awaits as the Tour of Britain returns to the legendary Caerphilly Mountain climb in the stunning landscapes of South Wales. The riders will commence their final journey from the picturesque Margam Country Park and race towards the majestic Caerphilly Castle.
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