The Great Tour, a 4,100-mile circumnavigation of Britain's coastline, is being touted as "one of the UK's last great challenges" by the organisers. It was launched today in London by SweetSpot, the same group that organise the Tour of Britain.
This year's inaugural Great Tour will run between 3 July and 4 September, taking in 64 stages averaging 64 miles each, and starting and finishing in Seaton, Devon. The ride will promote the Prostate Cancer Charity, Caravan (the National Grocers' Benevolent Fund) and the Tour of Britain.
The format looks to be similar to the highly successful Dallaglio Cycle Slam: a group of core riders will do the entire route, and be joined by various invited and uninvited guests along the way. The ride aims to generate interest, headlines and sponsorship in the communities the route passes through.
After the event, the organisers hope keen cyclists will try the Great Tour for themselves, similar to the challenge of riding from Land's End to John O'Groats. Given that the route follows the coastline the whole way round, it promises to be scenic (and windy).
If you're over 18 and interested in taking part in the ride - fully funded - you can lodge your application on the official website, www.thegreattour.org.
