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 🔴🔵⚪
— Lloyds 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.
The 2027 World Climbing Series is coming to Manchester
Danny Jones
In yet more huge sporting news for Greater Manchester, the 2027 World Climbing Series is coming to 0161 later this year.
We’ve had plenty of big peaks of late, but things seem to just keep going up and up.
Set to host the global event for the first time in our history, Manchester will welcome the World Climbing Series (WCS), which is set to include both Olympic and Paralympic disciplines ahead of the next Summer Games in 2028.
2027 will mark the 38th edition of the series, which will also be one of only a handful to be held in the North – it’s just down to our city to make it the best.
Officially announced on Friday, 16 January, the British Mountaineering Council (BMC) confirmed the return to the UK.
Founded back in 1989, the International Federation of Sport Climbing (IFSC) is coming up on four decades since the competition first began – Leeds being chosen as the inaugural hosts – the event has come a long way since then.
The IFSC’s rebranding of the annual bouldering, lead and speed trials to the modern WSC, which began last year, was initially revealed back in 2023.
Welcoming continental talent right down to the youth level, the upcoming 2026 World Climbing Series is taking place in the summer and will be hosted by the city of Innsbruck in Austria.
As for the WSC’s Manchester debut, which is being organised in collaboration with the City Council, Manchester Accommodation BID, MCR Active and the National Lottery via UK Sport investment.
It’s not the only big sporting celebration that the Council will be supporting in 2027.
Paul Ratcliffe, CEO of the British Mountaineering Council, said in an official statement: “It’s exciting to be able to confirm that a World Series climbing event will return to the UK in 2027 as part of the BMC’s major event programme.
“Hosting a competition of this scale in Manchester is a strong statement about the UK’s place on the international climbing stage and a great opportunity for our athletes, fans, the climbing community and the wider public to experience the sport at the very highest level.
“Our ‘Route to Adventure’ strategy sets out how we will build on moments like this to support people into climbing and help them progress, whatever their starting point. Using major events to inspire participation, strengthen pathways and reinforce our commitment to inclusion is central to our long-term approach.”
Scheduled to take place in June, you can find out more information about the 2027 World Climbing Series in Manchester by signing up for the official event mailing list HERE.
Manchester City agree deal to sign top Premier League defender Marc Guehi
Danny Jones
It looks like they’ve finally got a done deal: Manchester City have reportedly agreed a deal for the transfer of highly sought-after defender Marc Guehi.
Man City are said to have finally reached an agreement with Crystal Palace to sign the increasingly established Three Lions star after emerging as a suitor in recent weeks.
Pep Guardiola’s pursuit of the impressive Premier League centre-back ramped up earlier this month, as it became apparent that they were hoping to hijack Liverpool’s prospective move for Guehi.
The Ivory Coast-born England international looked all set to arrive at Anfield back in the summer, but the deal never materialised, and now rivals City appear to have sealed his signature.
According to breaking transfer news specialist Fabrizio Romano, Palace and Man City are said to have now reached an agreement in principle for approximately £20 million.
It’s fair to say that it’s an absolute bargain for a player of his quality.
While details surrounding contract length, wages and add-ons, etc., are yet to be fully confirmed (as is final verification as per an official announcement via his new employers), personal terms are not expected to be an issue.
On the other hand, the acquisition will also see Man City’s total spending to roughly half a billion pounds over the past year alone. Staggering sums for any sporting outfit.
Not that his former London team will mind one bit, of course, as it became increasingly clear that Guehi would be leaving eventually; manager Oliver Glasner – who also seems set to depart at the end of his contract – even addressed the sale in his most recent press conference.
You can see the clip in question down below.
''I wish him all the best for the rest of his career, he will have a great career I think''
Once again, we will have to wait for the official unveiling at the Etihad Campus, but we’d say that this interview is all the verification you need.
With Man City currently facing multiple absences, particularly in their backline with both Josko Gvardiol and Ruben Dias out injured, Guehi’s arrival is no doubt a welcome one.
Although many debated whether or not Pep needed to sign another centre-half, especially with two promising youth players returning from loan, supporters will nevertheless be glad to have snatched him from the clutches of Liverpool.
Over in the women’s team, they’ve also brought in a new member of the squad who could help spur on their title charge.
Danny Jones -
1st August 2023 
