Riders in the UK’s biggest professional cycle race, the Tour of Britain, will tackle one of the toughest hill climbs in the country when the event passes through Greater Manchester.

The 2023 Tour of Britain, will see some of the biggest names in the sport race through Ramsbottom, Holcombe village and Hawkshaw on Sunday, September 3.

The highlight of the route is the mighty challenge that is The Rake.

The Rake is designated as one of the toughest hill climbs in the country for cyclists.

The climb is only 875 metres long the challenge is in its steepness, reaching a maximum gradient of 22 per cent (1 in 4.8). Riders will take on Rake pedalling towards Holcombe Brook with the incline flattening out around Exeter Cottage on Chapel Lane.

The 2023 Tour of Britain takes place over eight stages around the UK between Sunday, September 3 and Sunday, September 10, with Greater Manchester

districts hosting Stage 1.

This year’s first stage will begin in Altrincham and finish on Deansgate in Manchester city centre. It is the first time the race’s Grand Départ has been in Greater Manchester since the inaugural edition of the modern tour in 2004.

This year’s curtain-raiser will mark the second time that Altrincham has welcomed the Tour of Britain, having previously hosted the start on the final day of the race in 2019.

The peloton will roll out from Market Street, close to Altrincham Market.

Each stage features between one and three designated ‘King of the Mountain’ climbs – which is where the famous Rake in Ramsbottom comes in.

Cllr Charlotte Morris, cabinet member for culture and the economy, said: “Bury truly on the cycling map again, following the tremendous achievements of Bury brothers Adam and Simon Yates who finished third and fourth in the Tour de France. “The tour attracted huge crowds when it last came to our borough in 2019, and I’m sure that The Rake will feature prominently in national coverage of the event.

“It’s a great opportunity to showcase the north of our borough and encourage people to take up cycling.” For more details of the Tour of Britain, go to https://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/.