Tour o the Borders

Riding the wave of national cycling interest

Big sporting events don’t just belong to the cities that host them. When international events bring an influx of people with a specific interest to a place – like the UCI Cycling World Championships did and the Tour de France will do in Scotland – it presents an opportunity. The question is: how do you make sure your town or region is ready to realise that opportunity?

The Scottish Borders offers a compelling answer. Rather than waiting for the spotlight to arrive, the region has actively built its own cycling identity, at first in line with the UCI Cycling World Championships, known as Tour O The Borders, or ‘Touro’ for short. 

What is Tour o the Borders?

Touro is a closed-road cycling sportive based in Peebles, taking riders through some of the most spectacular – and challenging – terrain the Borders has to offer. And it’s more than just a race; it’s a community event, a tourism draw, and a demonstration of what joined-up thinking between the public and private sector can achieve.

The event has been deliberately designed to capitalise on the growing interest in cycling – and cycling fans coming to Scotland for other major events. With major national and international events generating huge public enthusiasm, Touro gives people a chance to experience that same thrill – on the same kind of roads, in an equally stunning setting.

Making it happen – the effort behind the event

Closed-road events take a lot of time and effort, from various parties. Getting traffic-free routes across the Scottish Borders requires significant coordination – with Scottish Borders Council, Police Scotland, and communities along the route all having a role to play. That level of public sector engagement takes time and trust to build, but it’s central to what makes Touro work. Without it, the event simply wouldn’t exist, and the independent research backs this up: the majority of participants said they would be unlikely, or would definitely not, take part if the event were held on open roads .

The region’s proactive approach to cycling strategy has been key. Having a clear, long-term commitment to cycling infrastructure and events creates the conditions for something like Touro to thrive.

A place for local businesses

One of Touro’s real strengths is how it weaves local businesses into the experience. Feed stations along the route are a showcase for local produce and a direct economic opportunity for businesses in some of the more rural parts of the Borders. The event village does the same, giving traders and producers a ready-made audience of enthusiastic participants and supporters.

The numbers speak for themselves. An independent economic impact assessment found that Touro contributed more than £755,000 to the Borders economy, with over 2,200 participants taking part – the majority of whom had travelled from outside the local area and stayed overnight, meaning that spend circulated through hotels, B&Bs, cafés, and shops across the region.

Ensuring accessibility

Alongside the main route, the ‘Le Petit Touro’ option offers a shorter, all-ability alternative, making sure the event is welcoming to a wider range of riders, not just seasoned cyclists. That’s good for participation numbers, good for the community atmosphere, and good for the tourism case.

Takeaways…

The principle is straightforward: identify where national or international interest in a sport or activity is growing, look honestly at what your area has to offer, and build something that allows people to experience it. The keys to Touro’s success are entirely transferable: multi-agency collaboration, community buy-in, local business integration, and a clear eye on the economic opportunity. Find out more the event at tourotheborders.com.