Cycling fans in Nantwich and Crewe will get to see the Tour of Britain pass through their town for the first time.
Cheshire East has secured a stage in the 2016 premier cycling event in September.
The 182-kilometre stage, (pictured, below), will start in Congleton and finish at picturesque Tatton Park near Knutsford.
The latest route shows it will pass through Crewe to the south of the town centre before arriving in the heart of Nantwich.
From here it will head north towards Middlewich, and eventually east to the Cat and Fiddle A537 road – a steep climb of more than ten kilometres, one of the toughest in the whole event.
Some of the world’s most famous riders will pass through villages and towns across the region.
Top riders like Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish have competed in the past, but the complete line-up will not be known until nearer the event, which starts on September 4, in Glasgow.
Cheshire East will host stage three on Tuesday September 6, with the race reaching its climax in London on September 11.
Newly-elected Leader of Cheshire East Council, Councillor Rachel Bailey, said: “We feel truly privileged to be hosting this wonderful spectacle in the borough and delighted that the Tour have selected Cheshire East to host this third stage of what is a captivating sporting event.
“We believe passionately in promoting healthy sports such as cycling.
“In Cheshire East we have well over 200 miles of cycle routes, including 167 miles of National Cycle Network, plus traffic-free routes, including the Middlewood Way, Wheelock Rail Trail and Biddulph Valley linear trails.
“All this is testament to our commitment to promoting this activity for families and to the enthusiasm shown by our residents and cycling clubs.
“We hope this event will inspire many others to take up cycling, whether for sport or leisure.”
The stage will include a 10.5 kilometre climb into the Peak District, finishing at the Cat and Fiddle Inn, the second highest public house in England at 515 metres above sea level.
Tour of Britain race director Mick Bennett, said: “Stage three will present spectators with the chance to see the Tour of Britain race on more than one occasion.
“Tatton Park will be one of the best locations for spectators on this year’s route.
“Cheshire East offers competitors the gently rolling roads of the Cheshire Plain with some key climbs such as the Cat and Fiddle and we are working with our partners at Cheshire East Council to bring the Tour of Britain to as many of the communities in the Borough as possible.”
The Tour of Britain will be broadcast live on ITV4.
There will be three hours of coverage showing each stage, plus a highlights programme.
Cheshire East Council said it will be making further announcements about the event and how residents and children can get involved by following the build up.
For further updates, visit www.cheshiretourofbritain.co.uk and detailed information about the Tour of Britain go to www.tourofbritain.co.uk
(Picture, top, Tour of Britain 2012, pic courtesy of Simon Harrod under creative commons licence)
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