The UK's biggest cycle race will return to Cumbria this September.

Tour of Britain organiser SweetSpot and Cumbria County Council announced on Tuesday that the UK’s biggest cycle race – and one of the country’s top sporting events – will return to the historic county in September.

It will be the 10th time – and third successive year – that Cumbria has hosted the Tour of Britain.

The county’s stunning scenery, challenging climbs and passionate support make it a perfect host of the event.

Full details of the race’s visit to Cumbria – including the date, stage number, host venues and route – will be announced in the spring.

However, today’s announcement follows on from reveals of the 2020 Tour’s Grand Départ in Cornwall, return to Devon and a first-ever stage in Aberdeenshire.

Cumbria gained an economic boost of more than £1.5m from jointly hosting stage four of the 2019 Tour of Britain

The stage attracted 100,000 spectators to the county, including 35,000 spectators for the finish in Kendal. In addition, nearly half a million viewers watched television coverage on ITV4.

Cllr Keith Little, Cumbria County Council Cabinet member for Transport, said: “We are thrilled to announce the Tour of Britain will be returning to Cumbria in 2020. We know that hosting the race helps boost the local economy, inspires more people to take up cycling and is a great opportunity to showcase Cumbria’s magnificent landscape to a worldwide audience. We’re looking forward to another memorable day of top class racing later this year.”

Cllr David Southward, Cumbria County Council Cabinet member for Economic Development, added: “The Tour of Britain is one of the country’s biggest sporting events attracting many thousands of spectators and is watched by a TV audience of millions worldwide. The county council is delighted that some of the world’s top professional cyclists will be racing through Cumbria once again in 2020.

“Bringing the Tour to Cumbria provides a real boost to the county’s economy, for example we saw an economic benefit of more than £1.5m from hosting one of the 2019 race stages.”