THE Great Tour will get underway from Ryde on the Isle of Wight tomorrow (Saturday 4 July) - and it is understood singer, songwriter and producer Andrew Ridgeley will be on hand for the big moment. 

The 6,700 kilometre, 64 day, fundraising cycle will fill the gap between when the Women’s Tour and Tour of Britain should have taken place.

Event supporter Wham's Andrew Ridgeley will join organiser Hugh Roberts (managing director of SweetSpot), Hugh's long-time friend Robin Young and former professional cyclist Pippa York at the launch.

Due to social distancing, the launch is not a public event - but the Isle of Wight County Press will be be reporting from it. Keep an eye on our website for pictures and video!

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The team will complete their anti-clockwise, coastal circumnavigation by bike on Saturday 5 September, marking when the nation would have been gearing up to celebrate cycling, via the eight day Tour of Britain professional race.

Isle of Wight County Press:

They will stick to social distancing guidelines on their journey, supported by a small team equipped with ŠKODA support vehicles.

The Great Tour will aim to raise awareness and funds for chosen health charities and causes in 2020, ahead of the full event launch in 2021.

It had originally been intended to take place this summer, but plans had to be put on hold due to Covid-19, which caused the postponement of SweetSpot’s professional races.

Plans for the event to return as an annual mass participation fundraising ride will now switch to summer 2021.

From 2021, The Great Tour will become a recognised and waymarked cycle route around the whole coastline of Britain, with the official start and finish and waypoint number one located in Ryde on the Isle of Wight.

More event details HERE.