Cyclists get in gear for Tour of Britain

Motorists are being warned that there may be delays as roads are closed for the national event.

Cyclists will begin the arduous five-day event that will bring some of the world's top performers through Bolton.

The high-profile race will see 16 of the world's leading cycling teams coming to the North-west.

Hordes of fans are expected to line the route in the town for an event that organisers hope will mirror the world-famous Tour de France.

It signals a return for the Tour of Britain, after a five-year absence, with the race now granted elite status by the sport's governing body.

The race is due to pass through Bolton at 2.30pm, with riders travelling through Belmont down Egerton Road, before heading onto the A666, and racing along the Green Arms Road, via the B6213 through Tottington, reaching Bury at 3pm and racing down the A56 to the Salford boundary.

Before reaching Bolton, riders pass through Prestwich, head up the Bury New Road/Manchester Road to Bury and then pedal up Brandlesholme Road, Longsight Road and Bolton Road West to Ramsbottom at around 11am.

The route takes riders up the Rake and Helmshore Road to leave Bury for the first King of the Mountains challenge.

It continues through Pendle and Clitheroe and on to Blackpool, before heading back through Freckleton, Preston and Chorley towards Bolton.

The stage finishes at Urbis in Manchester with further stages in Yorskhire, the East Midlands, and South Wales.

The race reaches a finale on Sunday, September 5, when it arrives at Westminster.

The event was kickstarted on Sunday by the Manches Tour mass participation ride at Manchester Sportcity.

Riders headed into the countryside towards the Pennines for a tough 110km route through Lancashire, South Yorkshire and Derbyshire.

It included the daunting climb of Holme Moss, the same ascent that faces the riders on the Tour of Britain.

There were shorter and less challenging routes for cyclists of all ages and abilities.