UK’s biggest cycle race will return to Cumbria this September - but it is in doubt that it will return to Barrow again according to a business leader.

Tour of Britain organiser SweetSpot and Cumbria County Council announced yesterday 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.

The announcement follows on from reveals of the 2020 Tour’s Grand Départ in Cornwall, its 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.

Barrow Business Improvement District put on an event in the town in 2018 which saw audiences gather to watch the second stage of the tour.

Barrow BID manager Colin Garnett said: “As far as I am aware the Tour of Britain will not be coming to the Barrow area unfortunately.

“However we do have other events that are going on in the town throughout the year.

“Last time the event was here it really put Barrow on the map and was a good promotion for the town.

“It was a good day for the people of Barrow. We had a fanzone section so they could watch the start, it had that feel good factor.”

2018 was the first time an English county has held two days of the event.

The second stage was held between Barrow and Whinlatter Forest near Keswick with around 240,000 spectators. Cyclists raced along the coast road, through Ulverston, Coniston, Ambleside, Grasmere, Dunmail Raise, to Keswick and then Whinlatter.