The Tour of Britain, the biggest cycling race in the UK and one of the biggest in Europe, is back for 2023 and this year the international sporting event will be starting in Altrincham.
With the Altrincham hosting the start line for the second time in the competition’s 73-year history, the Tour of Britain and its massive crowds will be treated to some proper Manc hospitality and be able to watch the riders get underway from one of the best places to live anywhere in the UK.
The opening stage begins in Trafford’s beloved market town on Sunday, 3 September, and although the final section began there back in 2019, this is the first time the Grand Départ has taken place in Alty since the event restarted and the modern era began in 2004.
It’s going to be a special one.
This year's Tour of Britain 🇬🇧 will begin in the award-winning market town of Altrincham on Sunday 3 September.#TourOfBritain 🔴🔵⚪
— The Tour of Britain 🇬🇧 (@TourofBritain) July 27, 2023
The peloton will roll out from Market Street close to the famous Altrincham Market right in the heart of the town centre, which is so loved by locals and tourists alike that it won the Great British High Street Award for England in 2018.
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Although the distance of each section is yet to be confirmed, the opening stage is expected to last approximately 166km if the last time out is anything to go by and will finish along Deansgate in the heart of Manchester city centre, where Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel won in 2019.
In case you were unaware of just how massive this event is, that year there was an estimated 600,000 spectators watching roadside across Greater Manchester — the biggest single-day crowd in race history. Here are some of the highlights if you fancy getting yourself in the mood for race day:
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The opening stage route will see riders cycle through Altrincham, Hazel Grove in Stockport, Grains Bar in Oldham, Ramsbottom Rake in Bury and then finally Deansgate.
Speaking on the announcement, Altrincham’s Business Improvement District Manager, Mandy White, said: “We’re absolutely delighted that the Tour of Britain is returning to Altrincham for the Grand Départ Sunday, 3 September. It’s fantastic for the town to host such a high-profile, international sporting event and we look forward to welcoming thousands of visitors to Altrincham.”
It’s obviously totally free to turn up and watch but race fans can also enhance their race day experience by watching the starting gun from Altrincham’s Sportsbreaks.com terrace.
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As for those who simply want to watch at home, ITV4 will be showing live flag-to-flag coverage of every stage, as well as a nightly highlights show, allowing fans all across the country to enjoy the action, as well as international broadcasts on Discovery Player and GCN+.
Since its return in 2004, the Tour of Britain has become a cornerstone of the UK sporting calendar, with over 15 million people turning up to watch the event in person and generating more than £330m for the UK economy. Make no mistake, this is a massive annual event and Manchester’s lucky to play its part.
It goes without saying that Manchester’s connections with the sport are huge and plain for all to see, not only being the home of British Cycling, its national governing body and the National Cycling Centre, but also hosting the finale of the 2022 Tour Series.
As for Altrincham, we couldn’t have put it better than Tom Ross of Trafford Council: “Trafford is renowned for hosting world-class sport so it is a pleasure and honour to have the Grand Départ here in Altrincham. Last time, thousands of people came to cheer on the cyclists and enjoy the delights of our award-winning market town and I’m confident even more people will want to come and experience the opening of this illustrious event.”
He’s not wrong, in case you weren’t aware, Manchester is a sporting mecca and Trafford might just be the unofficial capital.
Manchester United legend Denis Law has died aged 84
Emily Sergeant
Manchester United legend Denis Law has sadly died aged 84, it has been announced.
The Aberdeen-born footballer was a prolific striker throughout his career, scoring 237 goals in 404 appearances for Manchester United – the club he signed for a then-British record transfer fee back 1962, before departing in 1973 – and also playing for Manchester City too for two separate spells during the 1960-61 and 1973-74 seasons.
Law was an integral part of United’s triumphant record-setting 1968 European Cup winning campaign, was the only Scottish player to have won the Ballon d’Or award, in 1964, and also the only man to have two statues dedicated to him at Old Trafford.
But, he previously announced in August 2021 that he had sadly been diagnosed with dementia.
The whole of Manchester, including everyone at City, is mourning with you. Rest in peace, Denis. Our thoughts are with Denis’ family and friends at this difficult time. pic.twitter.com/YuwjMXKgxn
A formal statement confirming Law’s passing by his family was announced by Manchester United this evening: “It is with a heavy heart that we tell you our father Denis Law has sadly passed away. He fought a tough battle but finally he is now at peace.
“We would like to thank everyone who contributed to his wellbeing and care, past and much more recently.
“The ultimate goal-scorer, his flair, spirit and love for the game made him the hero of a generation. Our deepest condolences go out to Denis’s family and many friends. His memory will live on forever more.”
Erling Haaland sets another Premier League record with new Manchester City contract
Danny Jones
Manchester City striker Erling Haaland has signed a new long-term contract with the English champions and set another Premier League record in the process.
Haaland only joined City back in 2022 on a lucrative five-year deal and it took no time at all for him to hit the ground running and become a Golden Boot winner in his debut season and smash numerous records in the process, but the club are clearly looking to lock down the generational forward even further.
The prolific Scandinavian striker has already scored 111 goals in 125 games for the Blues, so it’s just common sense to tie him down for as long as they possibly can – and when we say long…
Putting pen to paper on a new nine-and-a-half-year deal revealed on Friday, 17 January, Haaland has now committed to his future at the Etihad until 2034, which is a record for the lengthiest contract in Premier League history.
Man City may have rounded up to 10 in their official announcement but either way, a seven-year extension on an existing contract which is unquestionably already one of if not the highest-paying in the division is quite the statement from both parties.
Haaland’s new terms see him surpass former City youth product Cole Palmer, whose switch to Chelsea on a nine-year deal was already groundbreaking for the league, having signed more than half a dozen players on contracts spanning seven years in 2023.
The big Norwegian number nine – who became a boyhood Blue during his dad’s playing days at the club – is set to earn a basic wage of approximately £500,000 a week, which is thought to make him the new highest earner after teammate Kevin De Bruyne (£400k).
This means that not only is the 24-year-old forward tacking on another seven years but also a further £125kpw reported figures are accurate.
City also shared multiple videos celebrating the news and the often humourous Haaland has certainly relished the pageantry of it all:
Reflecting on his new deal, Haaland said in an official statement: “I am really happy to have signed my new contract and to be able to look forward to spending even more time at this great Club.
“Manchester City is a special Club, full of fantastic people with amazing supporters and it’s the type of environment that helps bring the best out of everybody.
“I also want to thank Pep, his coaching staff, my teammates and everyone at the Club as they have all helped me so much in the past couple of years. They have made this such a special place to be and now I am City no matter what.
“I want to keep developing, keep working to get better and look to do my best to try and help us achieve more success going forward.”
Director of Football Txiki Begiristain, who is set to leave at the end of this season, added: “Everyone at the Club is absolutely delighted that Erling has signed his new contract. The fact he signed for so long demonstrates our commitment to him as a player and his love of this club.
“He has made an incredible impact already in his time here and his amazing numbers and records speak for themselves. But in addition to his outstanding natural talent and ability, Erling’s dedication, professionalism, humility and desire to keep getting better sum up what we all strive to achieve at Manchester City.
“He is one of the finest strikers in world football, but Erling is still very young and will only continue to improve working under Pep and his coaching team. If he works hard, which I know he will, he will create an incredible legacy at this football club.”
Danny Jones -
1st August 2023 
