Thousands of spectators are expected to take to the streets as the OVO Energy Tour of Britain passes through Heswall, Caldy and Hoylake.
Wirral will host both the start and finish of Stage Five of Britain’s biggest professional cycle race, on Wednesday 11 September.
The 174-kilometre (108-mile) stage starts at Birkenhead Park, passing through the historic Port Sunlight and race through Cheshire West and Chester including passing the Airbus UK manufacturing facility at Broughton.
The route will return to Wirral racing through Heswall, Caldy and Hoylake before passing through the Birkenhead Park finish line and taking in a loop through Seacombe, Wallasey and New Brighton.
Councillor Christine Spriggs, Cabinet Member for Culture and Tourism at Wirral Council said, “This year Wirral is the Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture. We’ve got a hugely exciting programme of events lined up, and the OVO Energy Tour of Britain is the jewel in our crown. Wirral truly does have something for everyone and it’s no wonder our visitor numbers get bigger every year.”
Commenting on the stage, OVO Energy Tour Series Race Director Mick Bennett said, “I am sure this is going to be a memorable stage with incredible community support across the route.”
Stage Five will feature three intermediate Eisberg Sprints at Heswall, Hoylake and Birkenhead Park, and three SKODA King of the Mountains climbs. The first of those climbs will take place at Kelsall in Cheshire, while the short ascent of Flaybrick Hill in Birkenhead will be crossed twice during the race finale.
The 2019 OVO Energy Tour of Britain begins in George Square, Glasgow on Saturday 7 September and finishes overall in Manchester city centre on Saturday 14 September. ITV4 will once again screen live free-to-air coverage of each stage, along with a nightly highlights programme of the best of the action.
The OVO Energy Tour of Britain is British Cycling’s premier road cycling event, giving cycling fans the opportunity to see the world’s best teams and riders competing on their doorstep and helping to build a great cycling nation.
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