The Tour of Britain has been the scene of some great riding from Irish cyclists in recent years – namely Matt Teggart and Rory Townsend lighting it up with attacks – and with this year’s edition due to start tomorrow, there is once again plenty of Irish interest.

One of those on the start list is young Ronan O’Connor, the Global 6 United rider. The 20-year-old has plenty of international stage race experience under his belt already this year and will rub shoulders over the next six days with the likes of world and Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel (Soudal-QuickStep), Mads Perdersen (Lidl Trek) and Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers).

Another young Irishman who will also be on the start line tomorrow in Kelso is Liam O’Brien. The 19-year-old Corkman has been riding up a storm in his first season this year with Lidl-Trek Future Racing and will be a team mate of Pedersen’s this week on the roads of Britain.

The aforementioned Rory Townsend is back again, this time with ProConti team Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. With his sprint, and his willingness to get up the road and ride, he is a potential stage winner. He has held classification jerseys on this race in previous editions, not to mention being a past winner of the sprint classification.

Joining that trio is Dean Harvey, the Trinity Racing rider who is still aged just 21 years, and will look to impress in the week ahead by trying to get in some breakaways. Harvey has now gathered a lot of international experience, riding for his trade team and with Ireland, in recent years and can step up at a race like Tour of Britain.

Tour of Britain 2023: Stage Details

The race gets underway tomorrow with a 182km stage starting and finishing in Kelso. There are five categorised climbs on the route, including a final 2.7km ascent, at six per cent, crested 23km from the finish.

Stage 2: Darlington to Redcar

The 152.1km stage 2 from Darlington to Redcar features 2,200m of elevation gain and though the categorised climbs number just three, it is up and down all day.

Stage 3: Sheffield to Barnsley

Thursday’s stage 3 – some 166km from Sheffield to Barnsley includes the 1.4km Hound Hill, averaging 5.5 per cent, some 5km from the finish, where there is a kicker to the line.

Stage 4: Derby to Newark-on-Trent

Stage 4 – some 138.5km from Derby to Newark-on-Trent – is almost pan flat while Saturday’s penultimate stage takes the riders 149km starting and finishing in Northampton is over a similar profile, but with two short climbs just after the start.

Stage 5: Lowestoft to Felixstowe

The race concludes on Sunday with another flat run, of 158km, from Lowestoft to Felixstowe.

Irish Riders to Watch

The Irish riders participating in the Tour of Britain are all looking to make their mark on the race. Ronan O’Connor, Liam O’Brien, Rory Townsend and Dean Harvey are all talented riders with the potential to achieve great things in the race.

Ronan O’Connor

O’Connor, at just 20 years old, has already accumulated a significant amount of experience in international stage races. His ability to compete against the best in the world will be on display throughout the Tour of Britain. O’Connor is likely to play a role in supporting his teammates in the Global 6 United squad. O’Connor is a versatile rider, and his climbing abilities could be valuable in the mountainous stages of the race.

Liam O’Brien

O’Brien, a 19-year-old Corkman, will be riding alongside Mads Pedersen on the Lidl-Trek Future Racing team. O’Brien has been making waves in his debut season, and this is a great opportunity for him to showcase his talent against a strong field of riders. He is likely to play a role in supporting his teammates and trying to get in a breakaway in the early stages of the race.

Rory Townsend

Townsend, a well-known name in Irish cycling, is back for another go at the Tour of Britain. His ability to ride up the road and sprint for the line is a valuable asset for the Q36.5 Pro Cycling Team. He will be aiming to win at least one stage and potentially grab a classification jersey.

Dean Harvey

Harvey, at the age of 21, is a rising star in Irish cycling. He will be trying to impress at the Tour of Britain by getting into some breakaways. His experience riding for Trinity Racing and with the Irish national team will be crucial in this high-pressure event.

Conclusion: A Week of Thrills and Excitement

The Tour of Britain is sure to be a thrilling spectacle, with some of the world's best riders competing across the country. This year, Irish riders are looking to make their mark on the race. It will be exciting to see how they perform on the world stage.

With a strong contingent of Irish riders ready to make their mark, the Tour of Britain is set to be a week of thrilling cycling action.