Bristol Airport and Dutch airline KLM have become premier sponsors for the Tour of Britain stage taking place in Bath this September.
The city will host a stage finish of the tour for the first time on September 8. Stage five of what has become Britain’s premier cycling race will begin in Aberdare and finish in Bath having crossed South Wales and Gloucestershire.
It will be shown live on ITV4 and around the world. 
KLM and the airport sponsored the Bath Stage of the Tour of Britain in 2014 – which included a stage start.
KLM operates four flights every day which fly passengers to 800 short and long-haul destinations worldwide from Bristol Airport, via a connection in Amsterdam.
Since 2010 the airport has invested more than £120m in infrastructure developments. It is the main regional airport for Bath and North East Somerset residents and a convenient gateway for overseas visitors to the World Heritage City.
Bath & North East Somerset Council cabinet member for community services, Martin Veal, said: “We’re looking forward to working with KLM and Bristol Airport again in welcoming the thousands of spectators who will arrive to see the professional cyclists race through our beautiful city.
“As well as attracting visitors to the city, the Tour provides an opportunity for local residents of all ages to see top class cyclists, riding high on the back of the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, in action and be inspired by them. KLM and Bristol Airport’s sponsorship will support our Summer of Cycling community activities, which aims to encourage residents, young and old, to try cycling for the first time.”
Bristol Airport aviation director Shaun Browne said: “We are delighted to be supporting the Bath stage of the Tour of Britain cycle race. This world-class event will attract visitors from across the UK and around the world to the city.
“Visitors will be able to enjoy the excitement and atmosphere of the race whilst in Bath, as well as taking the opportunity of visiting the wide range of tourist attractions available in the area.”
Tour of Britain commercial director Alastair Grant added: “We are delighted to be returning to Bath with the Tour of Britain following the success of the stage start in 2014 and are very much looking forward to working alongside Bath & North East Somerset Council in 2016.
“We were thrilled to hear that they have renewed their partnership with Bristol Airport and KLM which will no doubt spread the word far and wide about the race coming to the area in September.”
Air France KLM general manager, UK and Ireland, Warner Rootliep, said: “The sponsorship shows our commitment to the South West and Wales region. As the UK’s largest regional full service intercontinental carrier, we are dedicated to linking the local community to KLM’s extensive worldwide network of over 150 destinations. We are proud to sponsor such an iconic event and I wish all the participants the best of luck.”
The Tour of Britain will begin in Glasgow on September 4 and finish in the heart of London a week later. Details of the exact route and where the stage will finish in the city will be announced in the coming months by Bath & North East Somerset Council and organisers SweetSpot.
Bath previously hosted a stage start of the 2014 Tour of Britain and last year’s final round of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series.
