By Victoria Brenan

Published at 08:54, Saturday, 01 September 2012

MORE details of the Tour of Britain’s Cumbrian leg have been have revealed as the race returns to the county after seven years.

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Britain’s largest professional cycle race, featuring Olympic gold medallist and Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins and his fellow Olympian colleague Mark Cavendish, sets off from Carlisle’s Greenmarket at 11am on September 12.

Organisers said a warm-up would take place outside the Old Town Hall from 9am, plus a series of interactive stalls and attractions to promote the area’s cycling groups and organisations.

They include Border City Wheelers, British Cycling, Cyclewise, Cycle Carlisle, North Cumbria Breeze, Watchtree Wheelers and Cumbria Police.

Vintage and retro bikes will be on display and healthy food will be on offer from the Carlisle Cooks initiative.

The cyclists will head along Scotch Street, West Tower Street, Dacre Road and Devonshire Walk on to Castle Way, before leaving the city along Wigton Road.

The 97-mile stage will then see the peloton head south along the A6 through Penrith and on towards Thrimby, before climbing to Shap and heading down towards Kendal.

Based on fastest race timings, the racers are expected in Penrith at around 11.45am, at the primary school in Shap at 12.10pm, outside the rugby club in Kendal at 12.40pm, and in Old Hutton at 1pm.

Ian Stephens, managing director of Cumbria Tourism, said they were delighted to welcome the race back to Cumbria.

“Events such as this are a great way of stimulating interest in the area which, in turn, can help support the local economy and often tourism businesses,” he said.

“Visitors are drawn into the area and quite often spend in local shops, restaurants, cafes and services, as well as on accommodation. The Tour of Britain is a prestigious cycling event and would also prove a spectacle for residents, cyclists, supporters of the race and participants.

“It is an important year for British sport and it is important that we are involved.”

Joe Hendry, leader of Carlisle City Council, said they were thrilled to be part of an event which attracted thousands of spectators.

“We look forward to providing a warm welcome to the Tour of Britain competitors and supporters,” he added.

For more information about the Carlisle Stage 4 visit www.discovercarlisle.co.uk or www.tourofbritain.com.

Published by http://www.cumberlandnews.co.uk