Tour of Britain 2008 - Stage seven

Seventh day of The Tour of Britain visits 2014 Commonwealth Games host city for penultimate stage start.

2007 Tour of Britain Champion Romain Feillu passes in front of Drumlanrig Castle

The Tour of Britain has unveiled the route of Stage Seven of the 2008 race, which will take the riders south from Glasgow, host city of the 2014 Commonwealth Games, through the beautiful countryside of the Southern Uplands to Drumlanrig Castle.

On the way the race will cross Mennock Pass close to the village of Wanlockhead, the high point of the 2008 Tour of Britain at 467m, before finishing in front of Drumlanrig Castle, which is sure to be one of the most spectacular and scenic stage finishes of the race.

With the hilly 153.4km (95mile) leg coming so close to the overall finish of The Tour of Britain, it is sure to be one of the most exciting stages of the race, as the rider’s battle for the stage win and also the chance to don the Yellow Jersey for Sunday’s final stage.

The stage begins at Glasgow Green, scene of the exciting climax to the 2007 race, before heading south out of the city through East Kilbride to the picturesque town of Strathaven in the Avon Valley.

The peloton continues south through the Ayreshire Hills to Muirkirk, where the stage turns left on its way to the first Hot Spot Sprint of the day at Glespin. The road turns uphill at Crawfordjohn for the day’s first E.ON King of the Mountains climb, before heading down to Sanquhar.

Further time bonuses will be on offer at Sanquhar for the first three riders to cross the line at the Hot Spot Sprint in the town.

The second E.ON King of the Mountains climb is Mennock Pass in the Lowther Hills. Located just after Wanlockhead, the highest village in Scotland, this will literally be the high point of the 2008 race and is sure to show just who is the races’ best climber.

After passing through Elvanfoot and Watermeetings, The Tour of Britain drops down into Nithsdale and heads for the final Hot Spot Sprint at Thornhill, where the race will turn back on itself and head into the 120,000 acre Queensberry Estate, home to Drumlanrig Castle.

A unique example of late 17th Century Renaissance architecture and steeped in history, The Tour of Britain passed this unique and historic castle in 2007 on it’s way to Glasgow, but this year returns for the stage finish of its penultimate stage.

Drumlanrig’s association with the bicycle goes back further than that however, as in approximately 1839, a local blacksmith named Kirkpatrick Macmillan attached pedals to his wooden hobby horse, and in doing so created the world’s first bicycle.

Commentating on the stage, Tour of Britain Route Director Graham Jones said:

“As the penultimate stage of the race, the riders will be extremely tired by now, but will know that this could be their last chance to shape the overall classification of the race.

I’m sure we’ll see a small group escaping, and the size and location of the E.ON King of the Mountains climb at Mennock Pass will help them stay clear to contest the finish in front of Drumlanrig Castle.”

Councillor Gill Dykes, the Events Champion for Dumfries and Galloway said:

“I am delighted that the Council is once again supporting major events in the region, and that the excitement and athletic endeavour of the Tour of Britain will once again grace Dumfries and Galloway.

The Council is serious about supporting cycling, with the financial award to the Tour part of a wider strategy to position Dumfries and Galloway as a great destination for cycling holidays and cycling events.”

Once again The Tour of Britain will have a strong Scottish contingent, including champion Evan Oliphant, who leads the Plowman Craven team, and David Millar who will ride The Tour for the first time for the Garmin – Chipotle team.

Also taking the start in London will be defending champion Romain Feillu, who sealed his overall Tour of Britain win by picking up crucial bonus seconds at Drumlanrig Castle, on the road to Glasgow in 2007.

Website - www.tourofbritain.co.uk