This episode of the Brother UK Cycling Podcast offers an in-depth preview of the 2021 Tour of Britain. Its documentary-style investigation features an impressive cast of expert witnesses. Riders, sponsors, route planners, neutral service providers and journalists combine to provide a thought-provoking prelude to the latest edition of Britain’s biggest bike race.
Phil Jones, the Managing Director of Brother UK and the podcast’s co-host, describes the detailed planning required of the Neutral Service p/b Brother UK in-race support crews in stepping up from top-tier domestic racing to supporting the world’s best riders. He offers insights into the race’s commercial impact, too.
Route Director Andy Hawes describes the vast logistical challenge of creating a 1310-kilometre route with 19,000 metres of climbing. He offers insights too on the intense demands of his in-race role as Moto Regulator, riding pillion on the penultimate motorbike ahead of the peloton as its last line of defence.
Harry Tanfield rides for UCI WorldTour squad Team Qhubeka-NextHash. The 26-year-old has ridden the Tour of Britain twice: making his debut in 2017 for a Brother UK-sponsored domestic team and returning in 2019 as a fully-fledged professional. His insights on the differing agendas of top-tier and third-tier teams are fascinating.
Larry Hickmott is the founder and editor of
VeloUK.net and has covered every edition of the Tour of Britain since it relaunched in 2004. Larry shares insights from discussions on the route of this year’s race with riders and managers and offers his hopes for the selection of Britain’s brightest talents.
Co-host Timothy John has been the editor of
RoadCyclingUK.com and
Rouleur.cc and is now a consultant. A journalist by training, he interviews each of the guests and presents and produces the episode. As a writer covering professional cycling since 2012, he has witnessed several editions of the Tour of Britain.