THE route for the Borders stage of this year’s Tour of Britain has been revealed.

Described as the UK’s “most prestigious cycle race”, the event will take place between September 5-12, 2021.

The 195km Borders stage – the penultimate route of the race – will take place on Saturday, September 11, beginning in Hawick.

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On the region’s stage, Mark Rowley, Scottish Borders Council’s executive member for finance, said: “An extremely exciting route has been developed once again and will showcase the outstanding cycling offer that we have here in the Scottish Borders.

“Wherever you are in the Scottish Borders you won’t be far away from the route too, and hopefully that will mean we have great crowds out to support some of the world’s top professional cyclists, COVID-restrictions permitting.”

The Conservative councillor for Mid Berwickshire added: “Attracting events of this magnitude to the Scottish Borders brings very real benefits to the area, not only on the day itself but longer term and I am particularly pleased the Hawick community has embraced this opportunity and has developed a Festival of Cycling with a wide ranging programme of events and activities around the Tour of Britain’s visit.”

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Describing the route, a council spokesperson said: “The 195km stage on Saturday, September 11, will start in Hawick town centre before heading for the Ettrick Valley, via Roberton.

“The riders will climb up to Berrybush, where King of the Mountain points will be on offer, then race on to Mountbenger in the Yarrow Valley.

“Continuing north, the riders will head to Innerleithen before tackling the hills of ‘The Granites’ road, before cutting east to Heriot and racing down the A7 to Stow.

“More King of the Mountain points will be available as the race climbs out of Stow towards Lauder and then races into Duns via Westruther.

“There is then more climbing as the riders head through Ellemford and Cranshaws to another King of the Mountains point at Wanside Rig.

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“The race will then drop down into East Lothian before a sprint for the finish line in Edinburgh city centre, in the shadow of Arthur’s Seat.”

ITV4 will screen live coverage of every stage of the race.

The last time the Borders hosted a stage of the race was in 2019, with last year’s event cancelled due to the coronavirus pandemic.

In the 2019 edition of the race, the Borders stage started and finished in Kelso.