THE Tees Valley will host a full stage of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain’s men’s cycle race for the first time later this year.

The second stage of this year’s race on Wednesday, September 4 will start at Darlington and end in Redcar.

The world’s top cyclists will head to the North-East, building on the success of the British National Road Race Championships, which have been held in the region in each of the last two years.

This year’s Tour of Britain will return to Darlington for the first time in 15 years, while the stage will be the first ever to finish in Redcar.

Starting in Darlington town centre, the route will head through the Tees Valley and take in parts of the North York Moors National Park and picturesque North Yorkshire coast before heading to the finish on Redcar seafront via a crucial climb up Saltburn Bank.

“We’re delighted to be bringing top-level racing and the joy of cycling to communities across the country in September, with six stages to showcase the very best of Britain’s character and terrain,” said British Cycling events managing director Jonathan Day.

“We’re enormously thankful to the local partners who are supporting the delivery of this year’s race, as we look to build on the momentum of June’s successful Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Women. I’ve no doubt that their communities will be out in force to welcome the riders, and make it another memorable week of racing to cap off a huge summer of cycling.”

Tees Valley Mayor, Ben Houchen, added: “It is fantastic news that our area will be hosting a stage of the Tour of Britain and we look forward to welcoming some of the world’s best riders.

“This event will further grow our reputation as a great destination for cycling and showcase the amazing locations we have to offer such as Saltburn Bank.”

Darlington has hosted two previous stage starts in the Tour of Britain’s men’s race, in 2008 and 2009. On both of those occasions, the stage finished on the Quayside at Newcastle/Gateshead.

The Tour of Britain begins in the Scottish Borders on Tuesday, September 3. Following the Tees Valley stage, the race will head to South Yorkshire and West Northamptonshire before finishing in Suffolk on Sunday, September 8 after six stages of racing.