Residents urged to support national cycle race

The Warwickshire stage culminates in a challenging climb up Burton Dassett Hills

Warwickshire residents are being urged to take to the streets to support a national cycling race returning to the county after a five-year break.

Stage four of the Lloyds Tour of Britain Men will visit the area for a third time on 5 September.

Competitors will set off from Atherstone in north Warwickshire and wind their way south, finishing with a 700m (2,296ft) climb to the top of Burton Dassett Hills Country Park.

The race begins in East Suffolk on Tuesday 2 September. A detailed route map will be published later this month.

The race last came to Warwickshire in 2019, with Dutch cyclist Mathieu van der Poel crowned the local stage winner.

The county council is running a competition for primary school children to design a flag that will start the local leg, and a trophy to be presented to the stage winner.

Interim leader George Finch said the race's return was a "fantastic boost" for the county, taking in North Warwickshire, Nuneaton and Bedworth, Rugby, Warwick and Stratford-on-Avon districts.

"I hope the people of Warwickshire will take to the streets and the hills, as they always have, to give the Tour the support it deserves," he added.

Jonathan Day, managing director of British Cycling Events, said Warwickshire had a "long and proud history" of hosting the Tour of Britain.

It has also welcomed the women's race five times in the last decade, and the men's and women's Commonwealth Games road races in August 2022.

"We are delighted to be returning, especially with such a challenging finale at Burton Dassett Hills Country Park, that will draw spectators from right across the heart of England," Mr Day added.

The opening leg of the Tour runs between Woodbridge and Southwold, followed by a second stage at Stowmarket.

Milton Keynes and Central Bedfordshire will host the third stage on 4 September.

Further announcements about the host venues of remaining stages between 5-7 will be made in the coming weeks.