The 2008 Scottish Stage of the Tour of Britain 
PRESS RELEASE
The 2008 Scottish Stage of the Tour of Britain professional cycling race will finish at Drumlanrig Castle on Saturday 13 September. It will be the second last Stage of an enhanced eight day Tour (the final Stage on Sunday 14 September is between Blackpool and Liverpool, the 2008 European City of Culture).
Dumfries and Galloway Council and Buccleuch Estates are jubilant to have attracted the world class cycling tour to such an iconic location, and are promising a memorable day out for cycling fans and all visitors.
The Council this week agreed to provide the funding to bring the Tour back to Dumfries and Galloway for the 4th year in a row, where it has built up a substantial and knowledgeable following.
The Tour continues to go from strength to strength and the 2008 Scottish Stage will be a gruelling 95 mile dog fight dominated by the racers criss-crossing the demanding Lowther Hills. Cycling afficianados are sure to make their way to Wanlockhead, to watch the cyclists make the tough climb up the Mennock Pass, the highest point of the Stage and the Tour overall.
Factual info on 08 tour here
Councillor Gill Dykes, the Events Champion for Dumfries and Galloway said, “I am delighted that the Council is once again supporting major events in the region, and that the excitement and athletic endeavour of the Tour of Britain will once again grace Dumfries and Galloway. The Council is serious about supporting cycling, with the financial award to the Tour part of a wider strategy to position Dumfries and Galloway as a great destination for cycling holidays and cycling events.”
Richard Riley of Buccleuch Estates said, “ The visitor team at Drumlanrig are excited at the prospect of hosting the Scottish stage finish for Britain’s premier cycling event. Over the last 20 years we have built a reputation at Drumlanrig as a great destination for cyclists of all kinds from hard core mountain bikers to casual tourists with routes through some of Scotland’s best countryside and cycle friendly roads. Cyclists are very much welcome at Drumlanrig.”
Notes to Editors
The Tour of Britain is the UK’s most prestigious professional cycling event and was re-established in the country in 2004 as a four day Tour.
It has since grown to an 8 day event with a Scottish Stage being a featured part of the programme since 2005. The scale and quality of the Tour has increased year on year and it is categorised by the UCI (the international cycling federation) as a Category 2.1 event – this means it is in the highest but one category, immediately below the French, Spanish and Italian Tours.
Dumfries and Galloway has hosted either the Scottish Stage Start or Finish since 2005 – it is the region’s premier live sporting event. The Council pays for the contract to bring the Tour to the region (£25,000 p.a.) and at a Scottish national level the event is managed in partnership between the Tour, Glasgow City Council and D&G Council, EventScotland and Glasgow City Marketing Bureau.
For further information contact: Ian Barr, Planning and Environment
Telephone: 07734073401 Fax: : 01557-332536 E-Mail: Ianba@dumgal.gov.uk
Issued by: Communications Unit, Council Offices, English St, Dumfries Tel 01387 260331
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