THE NORTH-West welcomes the best racing cyclists in the world and salutes Olympic gold medal-winner Bradley Wiggins when the Tour of Britain cycle race starts.
The race begins at Sportcity in Manchester, travels through Lancashire and finishes in the city centre at Urbis in Corporation Street at about 3.15pm next Wednesday.
The field includes three of the US Postal-Berry Floor team that helped Lance Armstrong to his record-breaking sixth Tour of France victory.
The race begins from Sportcity in Manchester at 10.30am and the route takes in Bury, Ramsbottom, Haslingden, Accrington, Nick of Pendle, Clitheroe, Longridge, Elswick, Yeadon Way, Blackpool South Shore, Lytham, Preston, Chorley, Belmont, Chapeltown, Bury again and back to Manchester.
The Tour heads into Yorkshire and the Midlands before climaxing in London on Sunday, September 5.
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