Tour de France hero Mark Cavendish will be riding in Cumbria next month.
The Isle of Man rider, regarded as the greatest sprinter of all time, has been confirmed as the first rider for this year’s Tour of Britain, which runs from Sunday September 5 to Sunday September 12.
The Manxman, who has won more stages of the modern Tour than any other rider – 10 – will lead his Belgian Deceuninck – Quick-Step team at the UK’s biggest race.
Cavendish has previously started the 11 Tours of Britain, finishing nine, and led the race for two days during the 2007 event.
A world champion on both road and track, he equalled Eddy Merckx’s long-standing record of 34 stage victories in the Tour de France and won the race’s prestigious points competition in July.
Cavendish said: “It is always an honour to race on the home roads of the Tour of Britain. It is a race where I have always enjoyed success and I am really looking forward to racing with what I know will be a strong Deceuninck – Quick-Step team.
“It has already been a special year for me and riding the Tour of Britain will be a great way to see so many of the people who have supported me throughout.”
Carlisle to Gateshead will be stage six on Friday, September 10.
Cumbria will welcome the race for a third consecutive year when it hosts the start of this stage, marking its 11th appearance in the UK’s biggest cycling event.
Only London has welcomed the Tour of Britain on more occasions.
This will also be Carlisle’s fifth appearance in the UK’s biggest cycle race, all of which have been as a start location.
The route will head through the Pennines, including a SKODA King of the Mountains climb at Hartside, before Gateshead plays host to its first stage finish since the 2009 Tour of Britain.
The route starts in Carlisle on Devonshire Walk at 10.45am and the riders go by Dalston Road to Motherby and Penrith before tackling Hartside shortly after 1pm.
