Cornwall to host the Tour of Britain for the first time in 'biggest ever sporting event' for county

Cornwall will host the Tour of Britain for the first time in September 2020, it has been announced.

The cycling race will start out in Penzance and wind through 170 kilometres of Cornish countryside before ending in Bodmin.

The route is set to take in many of Cornwall's towns and villages, including St Just, St Ives, Hayle, Camborne, Pool, Redruth, Falmouth, Penryn, Truro, Newquay and St Austell.

Spectators lined the streets in Manchester during the 2019 tour. Credit: PA

Organisers hope around 180,000 spectators will turn out and say the race will generate over £3 million of extra spending in the region.

A total of 120 riders will take part in the UK-wide event which will begin in Cornwall and end in Aberdeen.

Peter Hodges, Tour of Britain Communications Director, said:

“We are delighted to be formally announcing the official route, logo and website of the Grand Depart Stage of the 2020 Tour of Britain in Cornwall and look forward to bringing the race to the county for the very first time on September 6th 2020.

Credit: PA

Cornwall Council says the event is "the biggest ever sporting event" the county has hosted.

More details of the Tour of Britain schedule and locations of the intermediate Sprints and King of the Mountains climbs for Stage One will be announced in the Spring.