BRITAIN’S biggest and best cycling road race is returning to the Scottish Borders.

Floors Castle in Kelso will provide the backdrop to the stage three finish of the 2015 Friends Life Tour of Britain.

And cycling fans in Newcastleton, Hawick, Selkirk, Tweedbank, Melrose and St Boswells will also be able to cheer on the peloton as they race past their front doors on Tuesday, September 8.

The following day the race will also pass through Duns and Coldstream as the riders go from Edinburgh to Blyth in Northumberland.

The Tour last visited the Borders in 2013 when, despite pouring rain, thousands turned out to watch the Grand Depart from Peebles.

Stages have also left Peebles during the 2009 and 2011 Tours.

And there was a stage start in Jedburgh during the 2012 race.

But this will be the first time that the Scottish Borders has hosted a stage finish of the Tour.

Mick Bennett, Race Director of Friends Life Tour of Britain organisers SweetSpot, said: “This year’s route gives us the fantastic opportunity to have two days of racing in Scotland and to make first visits to the east of the Scottish Borders and Edinburgh. “I am sure many cycling fans will be excited, just like we are, at the prospect of seeing the world’s top riders on the streets of the Scottish capital, and will hopefully use the race as an opportunity to visit the areas we pass through.” The 2015 Friends Life Tour of Britain will start in Wales on Sunday, September 6, finishing eight days later in the heart of London with an iconic new circuit taking in many of the capital’s world famous sights.

Once again ITV will screen three-hours of live coverage of every stage, starting on ITV for the opening Wales stage before reverting to ITV4 for Stages Two to Eight. ITV4 will also screen a one-hour highlights programme each evening during the race.

On Tuesday, September 8 Stage Three will start in Cockermouth, will cross into Scotland at Gretna, first heading through Dumfries & Galloway before the Scottish Borders, where the world’s top riders will race through Hawick, Selkirk and Melrose before the final kilometres through Kelso and the finish in the grounds of Floors Castle.

Departing from Holyrood Park, Stage Four will pass through the centre of Edinburgh before heading into East Lothian and then through the Scottish Borders to Northumberland, where the stage will finish in Blyth.

Paul Bush OBE, Chief Operating Officer for EventScotland added: “The Friends Life Tour of Britain is the country’s top bike race and we are proud to host two stages in Scotland this year.

“With stunning scenery throughout the Scottish Borders, Dumfries and Galloway, and East Lothian, Scotland will undoubtedly provide the perfect stage for the action. The Edinburgh start in particular will be of particular interest to Scottish cycling fans as we see the peloton ride through the capital for the very first time.

“With excitement and passion for cycling at a record high following the hugely successful road race at the Commonwealth Games last year, we look forward to welcoming some of the world’s top riders to Scotland once again.”