The most prestigious professional cycling event in the UK is holding its final stage in Greater Manchester.
It will be the first time in 15 years that the OVO Energy Tour of Britain will return to the city, and everyone can get involved as all 10 boroughs feature.
Britain's biggest race will be here on Saturday, September 14 where the peloton will take off from Altrincham to take on the 166-kilometre route.
But it wouldn't be the biggest cycling race without its spectators, and the Tour’s organisers have called for the public to share their excitement for the race by more artistic means.
They're challenging bystanders to design land art, that will be seen from the air during the TV broadcast of the event.
Councillor Luthfur Rahman, executive member for Skills, Culture and Leisure for Manchester City Council, said: "To have such an illustrious sporting event finish in Manchester, the home of British Cycling is a truly special occasion.
"It will be a sight to see the riders coming down Deansgate, the home of some of Manchester’s most well known landmarks, and I hope the public will enjoy what will no doubt be a very exciting day."
He added: "Cycling has made such a huge mark on this city so it is a wonderful thing that Manchester will see the conclusion of this year’s tour. "For so many thousands of people to see these top class athletes up close will be an amazing experience, and may well inspire the young people of Manchester into becoming the next Bradley Wiggins or Laura Kenny."
Here's everything you need to know about the timings and the route so you know where to be for the race, and if you're headed elsewhere, the road closures that will be put in place.
What is the route and timings?
Stage eight includes almost 2,000 metres of climbing, including the famous climb of the Rake at Ramsbottom, before finishing on Deansgate in Manchester city centre.
Over the course of the route, cyclists will ride through city centre streets to the hills and valleys that surround Greater Manchester.
Three sprint sections and three King of the Mountain stages will be sure to keep spectators entertained as the hundreds of cyclists tear through the countryside of expected speeds of 42kph.
The tour starts at 11am in Altrincham; between 11.20am and 12pm it will flow through Stockport, it will be in Tameside between 11.50am and 12.20pm, Oldham between 12pm and 12.45pm, Rochdale between 12.30pm and 1pm, Bury between 12.45 and 1.30pm and Bolton between 1.15pm and 2pm.
The final three boroughs will see the tour move through Wigan between 1.45pm and 2.30pm, between 2.15pm and 3pm it will be in Salford, and finally, after four hours of hills, the tour will make the descent into central Manchester between 2.45pm and 3pm.
Key stage times
Market Street, Altrincham (stage start): 11am
Hazel Grove (Eisberg sprint): 11.48am
Werneth Low (SKODA King of the Mountains): 12.11pm
Uppermill (Eisberg sprint): 12.38pm
Grains Bar (SKODA King of the Mountains): 12.47pm
The Rake (SKODA King of the Mountains): 13.29pm
Horwich (Eisberg sprint): 14.10pm
Deansgate, Manchester (stage finish): 15.12pm
Based on the predicted speed of 42kph - you can read the full schedule of road timings by road here.
Which roads will be closed?
Altrincham - start
Regent Road closed between Groby Street and Railway St from 5am and 1pm.
Shaw’s Road and Central Way closed from 5am and 1pm.
Market Street closed from High Street junction to Regent Road from Friday 13 September at 3pm until approximately 1pm on Saturday, September 14.
Manchester city centre - finish
Water Street closed from Elm Road to Liverpool Road between 4.30am and 9pm.
Liverpool Rd closed from Water Street to Deansgate between 4.30am and 9pm.
Great Bridgewater Street closed from Watson Street to Deansgate between 4.30am and 6pm.
Deansgate closed from Whitworth Street West to John Dalton Street between 4.30am and 9pm.
Peter Street/Oxford Street closed from Deansgate to Hall Street between 4.30am and 9pm.
Quay Street closed from Byrom Street to Deansgate between 4.30am and 9pm.
More information on your local borough road closures can be found here for Bolton, Oldham and Rochdale.
Public transport diversions
Bus diversions will be available at a later date - we'll update this when we have the information.
Travel information for spectators
Altrincham
If you're wanting to be there for the start of the race, then Altrincham is served by rail and tram.
Altrincham railway station and transport interchange is a short walk from the start in the town centre - where you can get a Northern Rail train, which has regular direct services to Chester and Manchester Piccadilly on the Mid Cheshire Line. You can also get the Metrolink tram to the interchange.
Stockport
Regular rail services serve Bramhall, Hazel Grove, Marple and Romiley (limited Park and Ride spaces available at all stations, apart from Bramhall) and there is also a bus Park and Ride facility at Hazel Grove .
Tameside
Hattersley, Stalybridge and Mossley Rail stations are only a ten-minute walk from the race route.
Oldham
Regular bus services run up to Uppermill, Delph and Grains Bar, while there is a train service to Greenfield.
Rochdale
Regular rail services serve the town as well as Metrolink and bus services straight into the interchange - less than a five-minute walk from the race route.
The majority of the action will take place through the streets of Ramsbottom, including the final King of the Mountain stage.
Local bus services run frequently between Ramsbottom and Bury interchange, which links up to the Metrolink if you are travelling from Whitefield or Prestwich.
Bolton
Bromley Cross and Blackrod Rail stations are only a couple of minutes away from the action.
Wigan
You can get a bus to Wigan or use the Leigh Guided Busway and jump off at Tyldesley. There’s Park and Ride sites along the route.
Salford
Walkden, Moorside, Swinton and Salford Crescent rail stations will all be in operation and are just a stone's throw from the course route.
Manchester United are set to play at Old Trafford at 3pm so local roads will be busier than usual.
Manchester
Deansgate rail station and Deansgate-Castlefield Metrolink stop are the closest stations to the finish line and a mere five minutes' walk away.
Plan your journey with T ransport for Manchester.
Who will be riding?
The Tour brings together some of the most well known names in world cycling with around 200 cyclists expected for the tour, of which a number are local cyclists.
They are: Jacob Scott, Swift Carbon Pro Cycling, Oldham; Richard Handley, Madison Genesis, Wigan; Matt Holmes, Madison Genesis, Wigan; Matt Bostock, Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes, lives in Cheadle; Ollie Wood, Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes, lives in Manchester; Adam Blythe, Lotto Soudal, Wilmslow; Chris Lawless, Team INEOS, Wigan; Ian Stannard, Team INEOS, lives near Charlesworth; Owain Doull, Team INEOS, lives in Manchester; Matt Winston (team manager), Team Sunweb, Stalybridge.
You can read more about the Tour of Britain, which kickstarts on September 7 in Glasgow, on their website.
