The North East is gearing up to host Tour of Britain which will see top cyclists including Mark Cavendish in action next week on a scenic 114-mile route from Northumberland to Newcastle.
Final preparations are under way to host the third stage of the internationally-famous race on Monday, September 9, when the region will be back in the sporting spotlight the day after it hosts the Great North Run - and just three days after England's rugby international plays out against Italy at St James' Park.
In another coup for the North East, road racing legend Mark Cavendish will be among the world's top cyclists and teams completing in the third leg of the Tour of Britain.
Sprinter Cavendish will be joined in Team Dimension Data’s six-man line-up by fellow Brit and all-rounder Steve Cummings; Australia's Mark Renshaw and Belgium's Julien Vermote as well as Swiss talent Danilo Wyss and Austrian Bernie Eisel.
He tweeted ahead of the event: "September always has me looking forward to The Ovo Energy Tour of Britain.
"Having witnessed first hand the rise of cycling in Great Britain, racing in front of a home crowd holds a special importance to me on a very personal level."
They will be covering a picturesque route through Northumberland and North Tyneside before a dramatic finish in Newcastle city centre.
Stage four of the event then will get under way on Gateshead Quayside the following day and will go on to pass The Angel of the North on its journey south.
There was widespread delight when it was first confirmed that bids to host the Tour of Britain in the region had again been successful.
The Tour of Britain was last held in Newcastle in 2009 and previously came to Northumberland in both 2015 and 2017.
The county's coastline is considered perfectly suited to the UK's premier long-distance cycling event, taking the riders past some striking scenery.
Peter Jackson, leader of Northumberland County Council , is encouraging lots of local involvement and said: “This will be a fantastic spectacle which will showcase our wonderful communities, iconic landmarks and amazing landscapes to an international audience, while providing a multi-million pound boost to the local economy.
"I am sure the thousands of spectators lining the route will give the cyclists a heartfelt welcome.”
The North of Tyne stage will begin on September 9 in Berwick-upon-Tweed - following the race start in Glasgow on September 7 - and it will cross the Grade I-listed bridge and continue along the Tweed Valley before racers hit the stretch of the Northumberland coast, heading down past Bamburgh, Alnwick, Warkworth and Morpeth.
From there they will pass through North Tyneside - Whitley Bay, Cullercoats and Tynemouth - before the final stretch along the banks of the Tyne and a final sprint up from Newcastle Quayside to the finish line on Grey Street.
North of Tyne Mayor Jamie Driscoll said: "It’s just a few days now until the Tour of Britain starts.
"I’m really looking forward to it - this is a major international sporting event and it’s a great chance to show off our region on the world stage.
And he said that uphill sprints in store through some spectacular scenery will see show off the speed and endurance of the athletes.
He urged people to look at the route timetable and pick out a vantage point to watch the action while North Tyneside Mayor Norma Redfearn also saw the event as an opportunity to support local efforts to encourage families to cycle more.
Mick Bennett, director of the race which is named the OVO Energy Tour of Britain after its sponsor, said that after the event's two previous "great visits" to Northumberland, "it is exciting to be working with the North of Tyne Combined Authority to deliver an even bigger stage this September with what will be a thrilling finish in Newcastle city centre".
And he said that Grey Street will provide a memorable finale.
The stage four leg will begin on September 10 near the Baltic and Sage Gateshead then pass through the town centre. It also will feature Sunniside, Whickham, Blaydon and High Spen en route to County Durham as part of a 106-mile trip crossing the Pennines and finishing in Kendal in the Lake District.
The eight-day OVO Energy Tour of Britain will finally end in Manchester on September 14, having been covered live throughout on ITV4.
In the run-up to the launch of the first North East leg, Northumberland County Council has issued a guide to the event, including route information, road closures and tips on how to become involved:
Taking part
Residents are encouraged to get together with others in the community and help decorate the route by, for instance, painting and displaying old or unwanted bikes; creating floral displays and hanging bunting in the streets.
Shops are invited to liven up their windows with a cycle-theme display.
The route
The race is due to set off from Berwick at about 11am on the day.
Various designated areas of each route are given mountain classifications and points are awarded to the first rider to reach the summit on the climbs during each road stage, with a 'King of the Mountains' jersey being given to the highest scorer.
Stage three hills and sprints
Eisberg Sprints
Through Bamburgh towards a finish line at Seahouses
Through Warkworth with a finish line on the Castle bank
Out of Seaton Delaval towards a finish line on The Avenue
SKODA King of the Mountains
Ford Common, Ford
Weetwood Bank, Wooler
Lyham Hill, Belford
The estimated time of arrival into Newcastle Quayside is 3.23pm, reaching the city centre at 3.35pm, with lead cars and outriders due around 20 minutes ahead of the lead riders.
Where to watch the action
Tour of Britain banners will mark the race routes, so those able to get close to one of these will have the best view of the action.
Full route details can be found here .
Road closures
On September 9 some roads will be inaccessible in order to ensure the safety of both competitors and spectators.
Full road closures will be in place in Newcastle city centre from 1.30pm until 4pm.
Anyone planning to travel on the day, is advised to keep an eye out here for news of which areas will be affected.
Tips for residents
For full route details; race timings; parking restrictions and changes to public transport timetables, see the North of Tyne Tour of Britain website here .
Anyone who happens to have a GP or hospital appointment during the event should plan extra journey time and check parking arrangements.
For any non-urgent medical advice, NHS services and pharmacy locations see here .
