Wirral will host part of Britain’s biggest cycling race the OVO Tour of Britain this September.
Birkenhead Park will see the world’s top cyclists for an entire day of racing on Wednesday, September 11, as part of the OVO Energy Tour of Britain.
Stage Five will start and finish in the park, as the route will pass through Birkenhead and Wallasey too.
Spectators will be able to catch the race in action, while also having the opportunity to follow the coverage throughout the day on big screens within the Tour Village.
The 174-kilometre (108-mile) stage will help celebrate Wirral’s year as the Liverpool City Region’s Borough of Culture, showcasing the area’s history, heritage and coastlines.
The route will leave Wirral via the historic Port Sunlight and race through Cheshire West and Chester, including passing the Airbus UK manufacturing facility at Broughton.
Cyclists will then 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.
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 which will take place at Kelsall in Cheshire, while the short ascent of Flaybrick Hill in Birkenhead will be crossed twice during the race finale.
Cllr 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.
“It was only last week when we welcomed more than 10,000 cycling fans to Hamilton Square for a fantastic Tour Series event.
“I hope everyone who enjoyed that event, and thousands more, get down to Birkenhead Park in September for another not-to-be missed event.
“It’s such an exciting time for our borough and we can’t wait to welcome the world’s best cyclists to Birkenhead Park.”
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