THE Worcestershire Stage of this year’s Tour of Britain has been revealed at a special launch event in Worcester.

Stage Four of the Tour will be starting at The Hive in Worcester on Wednesday, September 10, in what will be the first time the race has returned to the county since 2008.

This year it is being hosted by Worcestershire Local Enterprise Partnership with support from Worcestershire County Council, Worcester City Council, Malvern Hills District Council and Wychavon District Council.

And one of Worcester’s largest employers, Sanctuary Group, has also confirmed its sponsorship of the Tour through a Worcester schools engagement initiative and will be hosting cycling safety activities at local schools in the build up to the event.

The Worcestershire stage will start at The Hive before travelling through the city centre via The Butts, City Walls Road, Deansway, and New Road before heading up through St John's and Rushwick to Leigh Sinton.

Cyclists will pass through Malvern Link, Barnards Green, Welland and Upton then on to Pershore, Evesham and Broadway before passing into Gloucestershire and finishing in Bristol.

Worcester MP Robin Walker, who was at the launch yesterday, said the return of the tour to the county was "very exciting".

"It's a great opportunity for tourism and for local businesses to get behind us," he said. "It's nice to see the LEP supporting it. I think the more we can do to bring people to Worcestershire and show off the fantastic facilities the better."

Councillor Pam Davey, chairman of Worcestershire County Council, said: "I think all these activities tend to focus attention on Worcestershire and I know it's very well received by business and by the young people taking an interest.

"It's an extremely good thing for the county. All these events are opportunities to show people just what sort of things happen in Worcestershire and we really are a step ahead, thriving community."

Gary Woodman, Executive Director of Worcestershire LEP, added: “The return of the Tour of Britain to Worcestershire offers us a perfect opportunity to profile the county and all that it has to offer, both as a tourist and business destination.

"We are delighted to have such a showcase for Worcestershire and we are confident that the event will draw massive support and inject significant finances into the local economy. ”

Full details of the Stage route through Worcestershire once it leaves Worcester City are still being finalised and will be announced at a later date.

Any businesses interested in sponsoring the Tour should call the Worcestershire LEP office on 01905 346180 or email jan.bailey@wlep.co.uk.