Tour of Britain Women viewership rises fivefold in 2026
The 2026 Lloyds Tour of Britain Women gained popularity in the UK, with viewership on its official YouTube channel reaching about 250,000, five times higher than the 2025 edition.
Broadcast figures also rose across ITV, TNT Sports and international broadcasters.
“It was encouraging to see the audience for the race continue to grow, with our live YouTube viewership more than five times higher than last year,” said Darren Henry, Managing Director of British Cycling Ventures. “Reinforced through the coverage across our broadcast partners ITV and TNT Sports, and through our growing network of international broadcast partners, the 2026 edition has taken the Tour to fans around the world.”
The women’s race, one of the most prestigious on the WorldTour calendar, featured nine of the world’s top 10 ranked teams, with some of the world’s best riders battling for the jerseys.
It was also the first time the women’s event had parity with the men’s race in terms of the number of stages, with five stages running from Cockermouth to Royal Leamington Spa. Kim Le Court-Pienaar secured her first stage race Tour win and became the first African rider to win the race.
“At such an exciting time for women’s sport, it was fantastic to see some of the best riders in the world racing on British roads,” said Henry. “When we took on the Tour in 2023, we had a clear ambition to grow the women’s race and ensure parity with the men’s event. Expanding from four to five days this year means both races will now take place over five stages, an important milestone for the Tour and one we’re really proud to have achieved.”
Following the successful women’s event, the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men begins on Wednesday 2 September in Lincoln, before moving to Boston and Skegness for Stage 2. A pair of stages in Yorkshire then follow, with Stage 3 starting in Hull and ending in Beverley, while Stage 4 takes in the Yorkshire Dales from Helmsley to Leyburn. The race will conclude in Earlston in the Scottish Borders on Sunday 6 September.
