Route details & road closures for 2026 Tour of Britain Women

Here’s everything you need to know about the route for the Ribble Valley leg of the 2026 Tour of Britain Women.

The route details and road closures for the 2026 Tour of Britain Women have been revealed by British Cycling.

Lloyd's Tour of Britain Women | Lloyd's Tour of Britain Women

placeholder image — Lloyd's Tour of Britain Women | Lloyd's Tour of Britain Women

Riders will complete the first stage taking place in Cockermouth on Wednesday, August 19th before the riders make their way to Ribble Valley next Thursday for the second stage.

The second stage covers a 110.5km route from Clitheroe to a seaside sprint finish beside the Mirror Ball on Blackpool's promenade. The route will see the riders begin on Castle Street in Clitheroe before making their way to Sawley Road.

After that, the riders will make their way through Barrett Hill Brow and Settle Road before heading through B6478, which will lead the racers on a fast descent through to Slaidburn. Midway through the Ribble Valley section of the stage, the Queen of the Mountain element of the race will see the riders head up to Waddington Fell and through Waddington before going back into Clitheroe through Waddingham Road, Well Terrace, Waterloo Road, Shawbridge Street and Pendle Road.

Following the push through Clitheroe, the riders will embark on the second Queen of the Mountain challenge, making their way up the Nick o'Pendle. Upon conclusion of the climb, the riders will head through a green zone for 200m before a fast descent into Sabden, which will take the riders through Whalley Road, Sabden Road, Clerk Hill Road, Portfield Road, onto the A671 corridor and Accrington Road before reaching Whalley.

The riders will embark on a sprint in Whalley onto B6246 King Street and head through another green zone for 200m. They’ll pass through the B6246 Station Road and B6246 Mitton Road before hitting Great Mitton, where they’ll travel through the B6243 and continue through Hurst Green before reaching Longridge.

For the final Ribble Valley leg, the riders will head onto the B6243 Blackburn Road through to B5269 King Street, B5269 Whitingham Road and B5269 Cumeragh Lane before reaching Whittingham by approximately 13:27pm and continuing through Lancashire before arriving in Blackpool by approximately 14:39pm.