Tour of Britain cycling race announces Suffolk stage routes
On 2 September, hundreds of riders will begin the race from Woodbridge at 11:00 BST, covering a total of 161.4km (100.4 miles) to Southwold.It will be the first time the opening stage of the race has been held in Suffolk since 2012. Throughout this stage, riders will pass through Grundisburgh, Aldeburgh, Saxmundham and Framlingham before an intermediate sprint takes place on Walpole Road in Halesworth. Riders will then come through Bungay before coming through Beccles, Wrentham and Reydon.The stage will then finish on North Parade in Southwold, expected at around 15:03.
For the first time ever, Suffolk will host two stages of the race in the same edition.On 3 September, the next stage will start and finish in Stowmarket. The 169.3km (105.3 mile) leg starts at 11:00, heading towards Stowupland and Forward Green.The route then passes through Debenham and Bedfield with an intermediate sprint in Stradbroke.Riders then will head to Eye, Lavenham, and Sudbury, before turning back towards Stowmarket, finishing on Ipswich Street at 15:15.Following the Suffolk stages, the race then moves to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, as well as to Ampthill in Bedfordshire.It will later conclude in Wales on 7 September.
'Worked hard'
Seamus Bennett, East Suffolk Council's assistant cabinet member, said they were "thrilled" to host stage one, while Andy Mellen, leader of Mid Suffolk District Council, added they were also "delighted".John Ward, Babergh District Council leader, said he hoped the district would make for "spectacular viewing".Jonathan Day, managing director of British Cycling Events, said the team had "worked hard" to create a "great route" across the event.
Follow Suffolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
BBC News
2 hours ago
- BBC News
How cycling is providing hope to Rwanda's female riders
Olivia Maniragena has been racing through life, dealing with a lot at a young at 14 and responsible for raising three siblings, she also became a mother of two before reaching 21, the Rwandan has found stability through cycling and is gearing up for the UCI Road World Championships in her homeland next month, where she is hoping to compete in the inaugural women's Under-23 Maniragena, life on two wheels has always meant a level of first learned how to ride a bike at the age of seven, and over the years cycling became more than just a skill. It became her means of survival."Cycling helped me take care of my family. Fetching water, collecting firewood, running errands and as a mode of transport," Maniragena tells BBC Sport Africa when discussing her early life."It brings me happiness. When I ride, it takes away my anxiety and my depression."But her freedom was the death of her mother in 2013 and her father five years later, she struggled to support herself, taking on various jobs that eventually led to two teenage pregnancies."I believed the father of my children would be my support system, but after three years, just after our second baby, he left," she recalls."I was left to care for my three siblings and my two children alone. Life was hard." Finding purpose on two wheels Maniragena's journey into elite cycling began when she joined Bikes for Future, an all-female team backed by humanitarian group Plan International and Learn Work Develop (LWD), a non-profit organisation implementing the schemeThe initiative seeks to challenge gender stereotypes and empower young Rwandan women through sport."What makes Olivia unique is her determination," says her coach Niyonsaba Elidad. "She knows what she wants. Every time we train, she gives it her all."Women's cycling in Rwanda is still in its infancy and often marginalised in a sport long viewed as the domain of men."In the past, if a girl was seen riding a bike, people would ridicule her. They would say, 'You are not a boy, why are you cycling?'" explains Mbabazi Fillette, programs and partnership manager at LWD."If they saw a young girl getting a bike and riding it, it would be an abomination."We're proving that girls can not only ride, but also compete at the highest level."At the Bugesera Cycling Centre, Maniragena has gained more than racing skills. She has also mastered bike mechanics."I can dismantle and reassemble a bike in five minutes," she says. "It's something I truly value. It brought back the hope I had lost in my life."While other members of the 30-strong team have specialised in things like welding, tailoring and communications, Maniragena's trade has become her financial lifeline."What keeps me going is knowing I can earn an income."On a good day in the bike shop, I make about $7. When I race, I can earn even more."But financial barriers continue to pose a significant challenge.A decent racing bike costs between 60,000 and 150,000 Rwandan francs (approximately $42 to $104) - an unattainable amount for many from low-income these obstacles, the passion for cycling among Rwanda's youth continues to grow. Growth in women's cycling In just 15 months Maniragena has transformed from a novice rider to a local champion, winning races in the Rwanda Youth Racing rapid rise has sparked hopes that she could one day stand on the podium in national colours."I see Olivia as a future champion," her coach Elidad predicts with pride."She has the talent to compete at an elite level. She just needs the right opportunities and support."If Maniragena and her team-mates at the Road World Championships miss out on the start list for the U23 race, they will instead take part in a social race linked to the event."I see growth. I can't wait to see more women competing," says Fillette with excitement."This is a huge opportunity for my country." Sportswashing claims As Rwanda prepares to act as host, international tensions have eased on its border following a declaration of principles between the Democratic Republic of Congo and the M23 rebel deal, signed in Qatar last month, aims to stop hostilities in eastern Congo. The conflict has strained relations between the DRC and Rwanda, with the latter denying accusations, including from the United Nations, that it backs hosting the Road World Championships, alongside other major events, some critics have accused Rwanda of 'sportswashing' - the process of investing in sport to enhance a nation's global UCI has vehemently denied such claims when asked about its decision to choose Rwanda, pointing to the country's strong cycling tradition, with the gruelling Tour du Rwanda held annually since running the Bikes for Future project, which was launched to capitalise on Rwanda's role as the first African nation to host the Road World Championships, agree there are greater benefits."There's now a stronger belief that bicycles can change lives," says Solomon Tesfamariam, Plan International's director for Rwanda."Our focus is to engage and support more girls, and cycling is becoming increasingly popular among women."For Maniragena and her team-mates, it has certainly created fresh ambitions."We want to be champions," she says."One day, we want to race among the world's best."
Daily Record
8 hours ago
- Daily Record
Rangers and Celtic fans warned over online ticket scams as fraudsters target clubs
The Glasgow giants are among the UK clubs most targeted by fraudsters who market non-existent briefs for sale on social media. Rangers and Celtic fans have been warned to look out for ticketing scams this season as new data reveals an estimated £2.5 million has been lost to football ticket fraud over the past two years. The Glasgow giants are among the UK clubs most targeted by fraudsters who market non-existent briefs for sale on social media sites such as Facebook and X. More than 2,400 cases of football ticket fraud were reported by Lloyds customers over the past two seasons, with total losses topping £500,000. The bank estimates there are likely to have been at least 12,000 victims across the UK since the start of the 2023/24 season, with over £2.5 million stolen by fraudsters. The UK Government has now joined forces with Lloyds to issue a warning to supporters as part of its Stop! Think Fraud campaign. Led by the Home Office, the campaign aims to better inform supporters and small businesses about the risks of buying dodgy briefs. Supporters of Liverpool are most likely to be targeted by fraudsters, followed by fans of Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City. But cases have also involved fans of Celtic and Rangers, while Wrexham featured in the data after racing back to the second tier of the English football pyramid for the first time in more than 40 years. Fans aged 25–34 were the most common victims, making up 28 per cent of all cases, closely followed by 18-24 year olds. More than three-quarters of football ticket fraud cases last season started on social media, underlining the need for tech firms to do more to stop the fraudsters operating on their platforms. Fraudsters typically try purchase scams where people are tricked into paying for goods or services that don't exist. This involves scammers posting fake adverts or listings on social media, offering tickets at discounted prices or for sold-out games. Victims are then asked to pay upfront – usually by bank transfer – but the tickets never arrive and the fraudster disappears. Anti-fraud experts are urging fans to stick to official sources and only buy tickets directly from official club websites, ticket offices or their authorised partners. Deals advertised on social media should not be trusted. Liz Ziegler, Lloyds fraud prevention director, said: "It's easy to get swept up in the buzz of a new season – but scammers are banking on that excitement. With demand for tickets often outstripping supply, fraudsters know they can trick fans into paying for tickets that simply don't exist. "Social media is the main breeding ground for ticket scams and it's time these firms cracked down on the fraudsters lurking on their platforms." David Hanson, minister for fraud at the Home Office, said: "As the nation gears up for the new football season, so too do fraudsters, waiting to take advantage of loyal fans searching for tickets. "That's why we urge all football supporters hunting for tickets to Stop! Think Fraud. Stay alert and only buy directly from the clubs, their official partners and legitimate resale outlets. None of us want to miss a big game, but that will feel ten times worse if you've also handed hundreds of pounds to a fraudster for a ticket you'll never see."
The Independent
12 hours ago
- The Independent
Estimated £2.5m lost to football ticket scams as fans urged to be cautious
Football fans are being urged to watch out for ticket scams when buying match tickets for the upcoming Premier League season, as a bank estimates that £2.5 million has been lost in recent years. Victims lost an average of £218 each last season, according to Lloyds. More than 2,400 cases of football ticket fraud were reported by Lloyds customers over the past two seasons, with total losses topping £500,000. The bank estimates that nationally there are likely to have been at least 12,000 victims since the start of the 2023/24 season, with more than £2.5 million stolen by fraudsters. Supporters of Liverpool are most likely to have been affected, followed by fans of Arsenal, Manchester United, Chelsea and Manchester City, Lloyds' figures indicated. Cases also involved fans of Celtic and Rangers, while Wrexham AFC also featured in the data. Supporters aged 25 to 34 were the most common victims, making up 28% of cases, closely followed by 18 to 24-year-olds (26%). The Government has joined Lloyds to issue a warning to supporters as part of its Stop! Think Fraud campaign. Around three-quarters (76%) of football ticket fraud cases last season started on social media, according to Lloyds' data. Scammers post fake adverts or listings on social media, offering tickets at discounted prices or for sold-out games. Victims are asked to pay upfront – often by bank transfer – but the tickets do not arrive and the fraudster disappears. Liz Ziegler, fraud prevention director at Lloyds, said: 'It's easy to get swept up in the buzz of a new season, but scammers are banking on that excitement. 'With demand for tickets often outstripping supply, fraudsters know they can trick fans into paying for tickets that simply don't exist.' Lord Hanson, minister for fraud at the Home Office, said: 'Fraud is a ruthless crime that preys on our passions, our trust and our excitement. 'As the nation gears up for the new football season, so too do fraudsters, waiting to take advantage of loyal fans searching for tickets. 'More than three-quarters of football ticket scams last season started on social media, with what seem like genuine 'first come, first served' offers all too often designed to rip off desperate fans. 'That's why we urge all football supporters hunting for tickets to Stop! Think Fraud. Stay alert and only buy directly from the clubs, their official partners and legitimate resale outlets. 'None of us wants to miss a big game, but that will feel 10 times worse if you've also handed hundreds of pounds to a fraudster for a ticket you'll never see.' Sajni Shah, a money expert at Compare the Market, said: 'Stay alert to red flags like overly cheap tickets being sold over social media or sellers pushing you to make fast payments via online platforms. If something feels too good to be true, it probably is.' Here are some tips from Lloyds for football supporters to protect themselves from ticket scams: 1. Do not let 'fomo' (fear of missing out) make you rush into a decision you will later regret. Take a moment to stop, think, and check if the offer is genuine. 2. Stick to official sources. Buy tickets directly from official Premier League club websites, ticket offices or their authorised partners. The Premier League website has a safe-buying guide to help fans when buying tickets. 3. Do not move away from an official payment platform to make a direct payment via bank transfer or virtual currency. Use the website's recommended payment methods.
