Tour of Britain hits the South East

The Tour of Britain will hit the south eastern part of the country in stage five of the race, which takes place between August 29 and September 3. The fifth stage of the tour will start in history Rochester, travel through the county of Kent and finish in Canterbury.

The regional launch of the race was held on Tuesday, June 6, at the St George's Centre, Chatham, North Kent, where budding cyclists were given the opportunity to meet some of Britain's s top cycling names.

In addition to being a major event in its own right the Tour of Britain will play a big part in raising the profile of cycling in the area in preparation for the Tour de France next year, which also goes throughout Kent.

Head of European and Cultural Policy at the South East England Development Agency (SEEDA), Stella Bellem said, "The Tour of Britain is a fantastic opportunity for Kent and the South East region. SEEDA and its partners throughout the county are delighted to be welcoming this exciting event. It will raise the profile of the county and provide an opportunity to showcase our magnificent countryside as well as boosting cycling to a wide audience."

SEEDA will be supporting this event over the next couple of years, working with other regeneration areas across the region which can profit from hosting such a high an event.

The stages

Stage 1 - August 29: Scotland, Glasgow to Castle Douglas
Stage 2 - August 30: Northwest, Blackpool to Liverpool
Stage 3 - August 31: Yorkshire, (final route to be confirmed)
Stage 4 - September 1: West Midlands, (final route to be confirmed)
Stage 5 - September 2: Southeast, Rochester to Canterbury
Stage 6 - September 3: London, Greenwich to The Mall