Tour of Britain Women sees fivefold rise in YouTube viewing

There was a five times increase in YouTube viewing of the 2026 Lloyds Tour of Britain Women compared to last year’s competition.

The women’s race featured nine of the world’s top 10 ranked teams with some of the world’s best riders. It was also the first time the women’s event has had parity with the men’s race in number of stages.

While British Cycling Ventures didn’t announce specifc figures related to YouTube viewing numbers, the highlights video from Stage 1 below has received 24,000 views to date. And one of the YouTube Shorts posted on the Lloyds Tour of Britain YouTube account has over 200,000 views.

Darren Henry, managing director of British Cycling Ventures, said: “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. It was equally encouraging to see the audience for the race continue to grow, with our live YouTube viewership more than five times higher than last year.

“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.

“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.”

Next up is the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men, which begins on Wednesday 2 September in Lincoln, before moving to Boston and Skegness for stage two.

A pair of stages in Yorkshire then follow, with stage three starting in Hull and ending in Beverley, with stage four taking in the Yorkshire Dales from Helmsley to Leyburn, before the race will concludes in Earlston in the Scottish Borders on Sunday 6 September.