Route details released as Tour of Britain set to come to Wrexham

Stage two of the popular event will take place in Wrexham, starting and finishing there on September 4.

The city has never previously hosted a stage start of the race; its only other appearance in the Tour coming eight years ago, when it co-hosted the Grand Départ.

Italian Olympic champion Elia Viviani claimed a memorable victory that day, ahead of home favourite Mark Cavendish and André Greipel in front of an estimated 10,000 spectators.

More recently, Wrexham hosted a stage start of the Women’s Tour, the Tour of Britain’s sister event, last June.

But now, the men's equivalent is set to land on Wrexham residents' doorsteps - and the full route has been confirmed.

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The Tour of Britain website says the Wrexham stage is scheduled to unfold as follows:

• Wrexham – Chester Street 11:45am
• Llay - 12:06pm
• Gresford - 12:10pm
• Rossett - 12:15pm
• Holt - 12:25pm
• Malpas - 1:14pm
• Bangor-on-Dee - 1:30pm
• Penley - 1:52pm
• Overton - 2:00pm
• Eyton (category three) - 2:10pm
• Johnstown - 2:15pm
• Ruabon - 2:17pm
• Rhos - 2:24pm
• Wrexham – Chester Street 2:37pm

There will be activities on the day located around the tour village (based at Llwyn Isaf) – this will include cycling themed activities and stalls. 

Since its return in 2004, the Tour of Britain has become a cornerstone of the UK sporting calendar.

This will be the 19th edition of the UK’s most prestigious cycling race, which begins in Greater Manchester on Sunday September 3, and ends in South Wales eight stages later.​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​ ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

The route in Wrexham comprises a clockwise loop that passes across the border into Cheshire, before returning to Welsh soil after Threapwood.

Stage two will be the second shortest point-to-point road stage in Tour history to date, beaten only the finale of the 2006 race (which ran from Greenwich to The Mall in London, clocking in at 82 kilometres).