The Tour of Britain is pleased to be able to help Stoke-on-Trent celebrate its centenary, with 2010 marking 100 years since the federation of the famous six towns came together.

To celebrate, not only is Stage Two 100 miles in length, but The Tour of Britain also passes through all six towns, beginning in Burslem before visiting Tunstall, Stoke, Fenton and Longton ahead of the thrilling uphill finish in Hanley.

From the Market Place in Burslem, known as the Mother Town of the Potteries, The Tour of Britain’s neutralised section will pass not far from Port Vale FC’s Vale Park home taking the peloton first to Tunstall, before turning to pass not far from the Start once more, making a great opportunity to grab an early second viewing of The Tour.

Waterloo Road and Cobridge Road take The Tour through the outskirts of Hanley and past the site of the 1986 National Garden Festival, now home to Festival Park, a bustling retail and leisure complex.

After passing through Etruria, named after the Etruscan people famed for their artistic products and once home to Josiah Wedgwood’s Etruria Works, The Tour visits Stoke before racing gets underway at the 0km flag on London Road.

As in 2009 the stage route heads out of the city via Trentham, climbing into the Staffordshire countryside via Hanchurch Woods and on through Swynnerton and Cold Norton on its way to Stone, the location of the first hot spot Sprint, that has proved a popular viewing location for spectators in each of the previous two Tours.

From Stone the route goes cross-country, skirting Uttoxeter and passing through Rocester, home of JCB, as the race enters the Staffordshire Moorlands and the climbing begins. First up is the King of the Mountains climb of Ramshorn in the Weaver Hills, but several unclassified climbs along the route between here and Longnor will ensure there isn’t a moment of respite for the racers.

Leaving the attractive village of Longnor, a great place to spectate thanks to its scenic setting and pubs and cafes, the road kicks up steeply into the Category One climb up onto Hollinsclough Moor. With the opening ramp coming in at 10% before the road settles into a long, grinding and exposed climb, this will make another excellent viewing location.

The route joins the A53 just outside Flash, which claims to be Britain’s highest village, following that road down a fast descent past The Roaches to Tittesworth Reservoir at the foot of the day’s final climb of Gun Hill. Hugely popular with spectators in 2009, expect Gun Hill to once again be one of the most popular viewing points anywhere across the eight stages, so get there early and enjoy the atmosphere.

Another fast descent takes The Tour to Leek for the second Sprint of the day atop a nasty little rise, then on and up Cheddleton Bank for the closing kilometres back into Stoke-on-Trent, on roads familiar to riders from last year. After dropping down to Barlaston the route passes through the Wedgwood Estate and the last Sprint and into the final two of Stoke-on-Trent’s six towns – Longton and Fenton.

In Fenton the riders will be greeted by the familiar site of the arrow straight Victoria Road, guiding them towards the city centre by way of the short climb up from Joiners Square to Potteries Way. A brief descent offers some slight respite, although the chances are the pace will be frantic as they turn right into Broad Street and sprint for the line at the top of Albion Street.

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