Britain Tour concludes in Cardiff, a tribute to Geraint Thomas
In September 2025, the cycling world will gather in Wales for a special edition of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men. The race, scheduled to take place from the 2nd to the 7th of September, will culminate in a fitting tribute to one of Wales' most iconic athletes - Geraint Thomas.
Caroline Spanton, CEO of Beicio Cymru, Welsh Cycling, has commented that the Welsh finale will make a "fitting tribute to one of Wales' most iconic athletes". This sentiment is shared by Geraint Thomas himself, who has expressed his desire for a send-off in Cardiff.
The race will pass by the Maindy Velodrome, home of Geraint Thomas's first cycling club, the Maindy Flyers. The final two days of the race will be in South Wales, with the sixth stage starting at the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome in Newport.
The route includes a Cardiff finale stage, marking Thomas's final road race appearance. The race opens in East Suffolk with stages starting on September 2 from Woodbridge to Southwold, covering over 300 km combined in the early stages.
The fourth stage, on September 5, is the longest stage at 116.2 miles, through Warwickshire from Atherstone to a hilltop finish at Burton Dassett Hills Country Park. This stage includes six categorized King of the Mountain climbs, with the final climb at Burton Dassett tackled three times at a 9% gradient.
The fifth stage (September 6) starts in Pontypool for the first time, covering 133.5 km from Pontypool to a summit finish near Keepers Pond on The Tumble in Monmouthshire. This stage includes over 4,000 meters of ascent and five categorized climbs, with a double ascent of The Tumble.
The final stage (September 7) runs approximately 112.2 km from Newport to Cardiff, passing through Blaenau Gwent and Caerphilly, crossing Caerphilly Mountain, and descending into Cardiff. This stage finishes in Cardiff as a tribute to Geraint Thomas at the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome of Wales and the Welsh capital itself.
The Welsh Government and local authorities have provided support and investment for the Welsh stages of the race, making it a comprehensive route that highlights both iconic British cycling regions and challenging terrain. The race is expected to be Geraint Thomas's last competition before he retires.
With rolling road closures on race day and road closures for setup at The Tumble, stage 5 promises to be an exciting spectacle. Full details of the race route are expected to follow in late July.
The 2025 Lloyds Tour of Britain Men will conclude in Cardiff, Wales, paying tribute to Geraint Thomas and combining tradition and challenge in Britain’s premier professional cycling event.
The Lloyds Tour of Britain Men's race will conclude in Cardiff, Wales, honoring the legacy of Geraint Thomas, who has expressed his desire for a send-off in his hometown. The final stage will pass through significant cycling landmarks, including the Maindy Velodrome and the Geraint Thomas National Velodrome in Newport, before finishing at the former in a tribute to Thomas and the Welsh capital.
