'I'm delighted Tour de France will be in my city'

Cyclists from north-western England who have competed in the Tour de France have spoken of their elation that next year's race will visit the region when it returns to the UK for the first time since 2014.

Chris Boardman, who wore the leader's prized yellow jersey when Le Tour came to Ireland in 1998, said: "I am absolutely delighted - I never dreamt a race which has been such a part of my life would come to my own backyard."

His fellow Wirral cyclist Steve Cummings - who won two stages in 2015 and 2016 - added: "It feels a bit surreal to have it on your doorstep - it's gonna be amazing."

The race will begin in Edinburgh on 2 July 2027 before heading to Cumbria, Lancashire and Liverpool.

Later that month, the women's race will come to Manchester.

Stage One of Le Tour de France Femmes will see the world's top stars racing across the Pennines from Leeds to Manchester on 30 July.

The following day, competitors will head into the Peak District and over the steep twists and turns of the Snake Pass to Sheffield.

Boardman won the prologue - a short individual time trial in the men's race - in 1994, 1997 and 1998, becoming the first Briton to ever wear the yellow jersey. In total he had the honour of leading the race on six days.

Next year's stage will pass through a gruelling course in Cumbria and Lancashire before finishing in Liverpool.

"I'm really looking forward to seeing it - it's a really tough route as well they're gonna have to cover before they get to the iconic waterfront in Liverpool, " said Boardman. "And so I'm not sure it'll be a sprint finish by the time they get here."

Cummings added: "I'm sure the streets will be lined because I think if you remember back to 2014 when the Tour of Britain came here and finished on the Liverpool waterfront the streets were thronged.

"I imagine with a Tour de France, with all the international visitors, it will be really packed and a great atmosphere."

About 80 miles of the Tour de France's second stage will run through Lancashire.

The route features a mixture of fast sections and demanding climbs, including King of the Mountains ascents in the Trough of Bowland and over Rivington in Greater Manchester, plus a sprint prize to ramp up the pace.

Along the way, riders will pass through Carnforth, Morecambe, Lancaster, Forest of Bowland, Clitheroe, Langho/Whalley, Blackburn, Chorley, Wrightington/Parbold, West Lancashire and numerous villages and beauty spots.

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