CROWDS are being urged to line a route through mid Cheshire to watch the UK's biggest professional cycle race on Monday.

The Friends Life Tour of Britain will tear through Bartington, Acton Bridge, Crowton and Kingsley on Monday, September 8, complete with TV crews filming every move.

The event, to be shown live on ITV, will see 120 of the world's top cyclists race through the area on a 201km route from Knowsley to Llandudno in Stage Two of the eight stage tour.

Clr Stuart Parker, Cheshire West and Chester Council’s executive member for culture and economy, said: “We are delighted to welcome the Friends Life Tour of Britain to Cheshire west.

“Our glorious countryside will provide a wonderful backdrop to this prestigious event and the global TV coverage offers us a fantastic opportunity to showcase our borough as a destination for cyclists.

“I am sure local residents will turn out in their thousands to line the route, cheer on the competitors and enjoy being part of what promises to be a truly thrilling spectacle.

“Cycling is a great fitness activity and I hope that this high-profile event will inspire even more people in Cheshire west to enjoy our great outdoors on two wheels.”

The tour is a real spectacle, with a police convoy, team cars, media and peloton racing along the route.

Riders will race along the A533 from Dutton, the A49 to Acton Bridge, up The Cliff and along the B5153 through Crowton and Kingsley.

They are estimated to reach Acton Bridge between 11am and 11.19am and Kingsley between 11.07am and 11.32am.

Spectators can look forward to seeing 10 teams who raced in this summer’s Tour de France among the 20 squads taking part, including Team Sky, Movistar Team, Omega Pharma Quick-Step, Rapha Condor JLT and the Great Britain National Team.

Sir Bradley Wiggins, who won the 2013 Tour of Britain, is expected to head up Team Sky's squad this year to defend his title.

For full information, including maps and timetables, visit tourofbritain.co.uk