Cornwall to host 2020 Tour of Great Britain Grand Depart

The Grand Depart of next year's race will see riders travel 170 kilometres through the Cornish countryside, starting at Penzance and ending in Bodmin.

St Just, St Ives, Hayle, Camborne, Pool, Redruth, Falmouth, Penryn, Truro, Newquay, St Austell and the Eden Project are just some of the locations earmarked on the provisional route for September next year.

It is hoped that around 180,000 people will line the roads to watch as 120 riders take part in the Tour of Britain.

Mick Bennett, Tour of Britain race director, said: "We are today delighted to be formally agreeing the Grand Depart of the 2020 Tour of Britain in Cornwall and look forward to bringing the race to the county for the very first time in September next year.

"A lot of hard work over a sustained period has gone into today’s news, which we know will excite sports fans in Cornwall and across Britain."

Jonathan Rigby, commercial director from British Cycling, added: "From diehard cycling fans clamouring to line the country’s roads to see the world's best go wheel-to-wheel roadside, to those new to our fantastic sport watching from home on television, this race transcends the ordinary.

"All eyes will firmly be on Cornwall next September as the county welcomes the OVO Energy Tour of Britain for the first time in its history."