| Rank | Rider | Country | Team | Time | GAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ally Wollaston | NZL | FDJ-Suez | 10h 36′45″ | – |
| 2 | Cat Ferguson | GBR | Movistar | 10h 36′49″ | +4s |
| 3 | Karlijn Swinkels | NED | UAE Team ADQ | 10h 37′07″ | +22s |
Tour of Britain is a multi-day race on the roads of Great Britain, and has a category UCI 2.1. The race was organized in 1945, since then its status has been constantly changing. In 2004 the race received its current category and since then it has been held regularly.
In 2025, the event will take place between September 2 to 7. Within these six days, the racers will pass through a number of towns and cities with numerous chances for the fans to spectate and pitch up. The 20th modern edition of the tour is expected to be much more difficult. The full route has not yet been officially confirmed. The total distance is yet to be announced. Although there are more hill stages, some of the participants predict that the route will not be much easier than last year. Route profiles will be confirmed closer to the race.
Cycling events in Europe have largely been more popular in France, Spain, and Italy thanks to the presence of races like the Tour de France. They form part of the Grand Tour which requires riders to go through some extremely tough stages before getting the ultimate glory. Professional cycling events in Britain have not attained the same popularity, but several changes to the Tour of Britain are starting to have its effect. After all, the Tour of Britain is the most popular professional cycling race in the United Kingdom.
The most recent edition of the Tour of Britain took place in 2024. This was the 21st edition of the event, which underwent major changes in 2004 to make it competitive on the international front. The first edition of the race took place in 1945 – much later than the Tour de France. There was a brief hiatus after the 1999 edition. Following several restructures, the event resumed in 2004. Even though it started out as a five-stage event, recent editions of the cycling Tour of Britain have been held as an eight-stage event. Now, this number will be reduced to six for the Tour of Britain 2025.
The 2024 edition of the Tour of Britain took place from 3 to 8 September, covering six stages across England with a total distance of approximately 943.9 km. The race featured a mix of flat sprint stages and hilly terrains, offering challenges for both sprinters and climbers. Several top-tier teams delivered strong performances throughout the week, with INEOS Grenadiers, UAE Team Emirates, and Soudal Quick-Step consistently leading the pack. Their riders dominated key breakaways and controlled the peloton on crucial climbs and sprint finishes, making the 2024 Tour a thrilling and competitive edition.
Since coming into the UCI Europe Tour, the Tour of Britain route has become much more complex with large predominance for early stages. Twenty teams took part in the 2015 edition, which featured a mix of terrain formats. The event was dominated by three teams – Team Sky, Movistar Team, and Etixx–Quick-Step. Even though they managed to grab individual stages, Cannondale–Garmin managed to win the overall team classification by finishing 5′ 35″ ahead of Team Sky.
The 2025 edition of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women took place from 6 to 9 June, marking a major return of the race after a two-year absence. Spanning four stages across Wales and Scotland, the event showcased elite-level women’s road cycling and featured both UCI Women’s WorldTour and British Continental teams.
The race began in Welshpool and concluded with a dramatic criterium stage in Glasgow, with thousands of fans lining the roads throughout the weekend. New Zealand rider Ally Wollaston (FDJ–Suez) secured the overall win by claiming vital time bonuses during the final stage, overtaking early leader Cat Ferguson (Movistar Team) by just four seconds.
| Rank | Rider | Country | Team | Time | GAP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Ally Wollaston | NZL | FDJ-Suez | 10h 36′45″ | – |
| 2 | Cat Ferguson | GBR | Movistar | 10h 36′49″ | +4s |
| 3 | Karlijn Swinkels | NED | UAE Team ADQ | 10h 37′07″ | +22s |
Ferguson impressed throughout the race, including a victory on stage three in Kelso, and finished second overall while also taking home the points and young rider classifications. The race was widely hailed as a success and a key milestone in the continued growth of women’s cycling in the UK.
British rider Stephen Williams emerged as the overall winner, showcasing consistent performance throughout the week. The event attracted a strong international field and large crowds along the route, reinforcing its status as the UK’s most prestigious road cycling race.
The Tour of Britain 2025 is expected to be much more difficult. The full route is yet to be confirmed. Details such as stage profiles and total distance will be announced by organisers. Even though there are more hill stages, several riders are of the opinion that the 2025 route will not be much easier than in the previous edition. Stage characteristics such as flat or hilly terrain are still to be confirmed.
The 2025 edition of the Tour of Britain is scheduled for September 2–7, spanning six days of racing through various towns and cities across the country. Spectators will once again have plenty of opportunities to catch the action from the roadside. As the 20th modern edition of the race, it’s expected to present a more challenging route for the riders.
The Tour of Britain often serves as a key part of riders’ preparation for the UCI Road World Championships, which typically take place later in September. In 2025, the Tour is scheduled for September 2–7, while the World Championships will be held from September 21 to 28 in Kigali, Rwanda. With just two weeks between the two events, the Tour provides an ideal opportunity for riders to test their form, gain racing rhythm, and adapt to competitive intensity ahead of the global season finale.
