The Tour of Britain Men cycling routes in Suffolk

The Lloyd's Tour of Britain Men cycling event will come through parts of Suffolk on 2 and 3 September

Stage routes for the Lloyd's Tour of Britain Men cycling event have been announced.

Suffolk will play host to two stages of the biggest professional cycling event on 2 and 3 September.

One route will pass through East Suffolk, then Mid Suffolk, and Babergh the following day.

The district councils said they were excited and believed their communities would enjoy the event.

The first stage of the race will pass through East Suffolk

On 2 September, hundreds of riders will begin the race from Woodbridge at 11:00 BST, covering a total of 161.4km (100.4 miles) to Southwold.

It will be the first time the opening stage of the race has been held in Suffolk since 2012.

Throughout this stage, riders will pass through Grundisburgh, Aldeburgh, Saxmundham and Framlingham before an intermediate sprint takes place on Walpole Road in Halesworth.

Riders will then come through Bungay before coming through Beccles, Wrentham and Reydon.

The stage will then finish on North Parade in Southwold, expected at around 15:03.

The following day the race passes through Mid Suffolk and Babergh

For the first time ever, Suffolk will host two stages of the race in the same edition.

On 3 September, the next stage will start and finish in Stowmarket.

The 169.3km (105.3 mile) leg starts at 11:00, heading towards Stowupland and Forward Green.

The route then passes through Debenham and Bedfield with an intermediate sprint in Stradbroke.

Riders then will head to Eye, Lavenham, and Sudbury, before turning back towards Stowmarket, finishing on Ipswich Street at 15:15.

Following the Suffolk stages, the race then moves to Milton Keynes in Buckinghamshire, as well as to Ampthill in Bedfordshire.

It will later conclude in Wales on 7 September.

'Worked hard'

Seamus Bennett, East Suffolk Council's assistant cabinet member, said they were "thrilled" to host stage one, while Andy Mellen, leader of Mid Suffolk District Council, added they were also "delighted".

John Ward, Babergh District Council leader, said he hoped the district would make for "spectacular viewing".

Jonathan Day, managing director of British Cycling Events, said the team had "worked hard" to create a "great route" across the event.