Stage one of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Women will come to the North York Moors for the first time in June 2025. On Thursday 5 June, the stage will depart from Dalby Forest, before winding its way through the National Park northwards heading towards the coast to the finish line in Redcar in the Tees Valley. The Tour of Britain Women is part of the UCI Women's World Tour event series. Within the National Park there will be a series of classified climbs around Castleton and Blakey Bank.
Dalby Forest last hosted a Tour of Britain men's finish back in 2008; this will be the first time it features as a starting point in the women’s race. Redcar, the stage’s final destination, is also making its women’s race debut.
During stage one, there will be two contested categorised Queen of the Mountains climbs, the first the long, six kilometre climb up to Blakey Ridge from Hutton le Hole, averaging 4% past the Lion Inn at Blakey.
The second Queen of the Mountains follows shortly after, as the race climbs up Langburn’s Bank out of Castleton, averaging just over 5% across the two-kilometre ascent, while riders will contest the day’s intermediate sprint in Newton-under-Roseberry, shortly before Guisborough.
Defending champions, and the world’s number one ranked squad Team SD Worx – Protime, who won the 2024 race with Lotte Kopecky, headline the team entry list, alongside the Team Picnic PostNL team of British champion Pfeiffer Georgi, and the Lidl - Trek team of last year’s runner up Anna Henderson and former winner Lizzie Deignan.
Cycling to the start in Dalby Forest
From Malton train station follow the Malton and Pickering market town cycle route before joining the Moor to Sea trail into Dalby Forest. If coming from Scarborough, following the Moor to Sea cycle network, on the route from Scarborough via Highwood Brow into Dalby Forest. These routes all use quiet lanes or traffic free bridleways and forest tracks - all of which are well surfaced but have elements of off-road.
There is amble cycle parking in Dalby Forest, including free e-bike charging stations and Dalby Forest Cycle Hub that can cater for all your cycling needs.
Planning ahead for the day
Given the challenging climbs, the race pace will be relatively slower on the climbs making Hutton le Hole and Blakey Ridge ideal spectator locations. Or to get the complete experience, soak up the event village atmosphere at the stage start in Dalby Forest or finish at Zetland Park in Redcar.
British Cycling provides a detailed route guide for the stage, including elevation profiles.
Fast rail and travel options make the National Park an easy place to get to – there are options for travel via rail on the Esk Valley Rail line, between Middlesbrough and Whitby, with stops along the route including Commondale, Castleton, Kildale and Great Ayton.
If travelling by car, please park sensibility, not blocking the race route or access to property. Parking restrictions will be in place across the race route to ensure the safety of the riders, support vehicles, spectators and other road users.
Rolling road closures along the race route will typically last no more than 30-45 minutes, apart from at the start and finish. Up-to-date details on predicted road closures are available from North Yorkshire Council and Redcar and Cleveland's website
Police motorcycles will close off the race route before the riders are expected. Roads will reopen after the last support vehicles have passed.
Race timings
Estimated times at key locations:
Race Start: Dalby Forest 11.30am
Pickering: 11.50am
Hutton-Le-Hole: 12.20pm
Castleton: 12.50pm
Great Ayton: 1.20pm
Guisborough (sprint): 1.25pm
Marske: 1.45pm
Race finish (estimated): Redcar Coast Road 1.50pm
Discover a Cycling Friendly welcome
Cycling is a fantastic way to experience the National Park, particularly with the extensive network of cycling-friendly businesses and accommodation. So while the opening stage of the tour will show some challenging sections, the sight of quiet open roads, majestic moorland and dales views, and welcoming villages will also be inspiring for leisure cyclists of all levels.
Businesses who've joined the cycling friendly network have gone the extra mile to offer specific activities, facilities, information and services to enhance your cycling experience in the North York Moors.
Cycling events in the National Park
If you're inspired after the race then get on your bike and explore the rest of the National Park for yourself, have a look at our cycling events page to discover cycling events that take your fancy. Including road, gravel and mountain bike events.
Event highlights:
- Road - Struggle Moors - 15 June: One of the UK's hardest sportives, boasting bucket-list cycling climbs woven into the best North York Moors scenery. This year with a brand new Moors Gravel ride option.
- Gravel - Gravel Rocks - 11 - 13 July: A different kind of gravel event, two days with two stages. Two night timed segments (over 10km loop) and four day timed segments (over 75km loop). Created by the team from the Dirty Reiver.
- Family friendly - Minds and Miles - 29 September: Minds and Miles cycle event is a great opportunity to share a cycle through the National Park with friends and family. An event designed to help you slow down, look up and enjoy the National Park by bike - while sharing it with your favourite people, options for a family loop, gravel ride or two road routes, all supporting North York Moors Trust.
- Mountain bike - Ard Moors - 7 - 8 June: A multi-stage enduro mountain bike race, an Ard adventure on the stunning North York Moors. Expect steep natural trails, single track, big hills, long climbs and entertainment at the stunning Lord Stones Country Park in the heart of the National Park.
Explore our various cycling routes across the North York Moors. If you're looking for a challenge or several days worth of road cycling then check out the North York Moors Cycleway. It covers 170 miles in a figure of eight loop and takes in the very best of National Park scenery.
