Free Tour of Britain Women stage reaches Lancashire, 20 August

Elite cyclists will race from Clitheroe to Blackpool on Thursday 20 August 2026 as stage two of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women’s race comes to Lancashire for the first time. The event is free to attend, with the route covering more than 70 miles and a Family Cycling Festival taking place in Blackpool before the finish.

Lancashire County Council says the stage will travel through towns and villages across the county before ending in a sprint beside Blackpool’s Mirror Ball. It is an event for spectators of all ages, while the separate festival at the Solaris Centre is designed for people who want to cycle as well as watch.

Race route from Clitheroe to Blackpool

The second stage starts in Clitheroe and heads west across Lancashire towards Blackpool. Riders will tackle Waddington Fell and the Nick o’Pendle before passing through Sabden, Whalley, Hurst Green, Longridge, Broughton, Weeton and Lytham.

The finish is planned next to Blackpool’s Mirror Ball. For local race followers, the route offers several confirmed places along the way rather than a single venue, although the council has not yet published further road-closure detail for individual locations.

This will be Lancashire’s first hosting of the women’s race. Clitheroe previously hosted the men’s Tour in 2015, while Blackpool has hosted three starts and five finishes in the event’s history, including a stage won by Sir Mark Cavendish in 2012.

Family Cycling Festival at the Solaris Centre

Blackpool’s Family Cycling Festival will run outside the Solaris Centre from 11am to 2pm on Thursday 20 August, in the hours before the women’s race reaches the town.

The free event offers people of all ages a traffic-free route and cycling-themed activities. Visitors are asked to bring their own bikes, though a limited number of children’s and adult bikes will be available to hire.

The festival provides a separate way to take part for families and other attendees who may not be following the race route itself. No booking arrangements or further accessibility information are given in the council’s announcement.

Rolling road closures along the route

Rolling road closures will be used during the race for safety and to minimise disruption. Lancashire County Council says most roads on the route are expected to be affected for around 30 to 40 minutes, with emergency-service access maintained.

Further closure information is still due to be provided, so people whose journeys use the listed towns and villages should watch for the council’s next update. Some of the Lancashire roads used by the women’s race are also planned to feature in stage two of the men’s Tour de France on Saturday 3 July 2027.

Source: Lancashire County Council News