EXCITEMENT is building as final preparations are made for the visit of Britain’s fastest professional cyclists to Guisborough on Sunday.

The televised Tour Series 2021 event will race around the town, starting at 3pm for the women’s race and 4.30pm for the men’s event.

Activities will kick off from about 12pm, while British Cycling – in conjunction with local clubs – are bringing bikes down to the 150m finish straight, so people can take part in mini sprints themselves.

There will also be soft archery and multi-sport activities in the grounds of Gisborough Priory.

Stilt-walkers, face painters and human statues will create a festival-like atmosphere, along with Backchat Brass, who will be performing in the Priory grounds.

At the Tour Village at the top of Chaloner Street, Bike Scene of Guisborough will be holding a mini expo, and bike checks will be provided by Middlesbrough Environment City.

More teams than ever before have entered the races this year, and all competitors will be sweeping round laps of a 1.3km course set around a section of the town. The start/finish line on Westgate will provide a fast start to the lap and take competitors onto Church Street, before twisting and turning through Walker’s Row, Northgate, Bolckow Street and a sweeping run through Priory Close.

The battle for position will heat up on Reid Terrace and Westgate Road throughout, but especially on the final lap, as the riders seek to be best placed for the 150-metre run to the finish line.

To lessen the risk of Covid-19 infection spread, visitors will be encouraged to spread out along this route as far as possible, to minimise the level of crowding. They will also be encouraged to wear masks in crowded areas, including hospitality areas, and to make use of the hand sanitising stations which will be dotted around the town. All attendees are also encouraged to take a lateral flow test in advance of attending the event and only attend if negative. People experiencing symptoms should not attend.

Councillor Louise Westbury, Redcar and Cleveland Council’s cabinet member with responsibility for events and culture, said: “We are all counting down to the Guisborough leg of the Tour Series now and it is going to be an incredible day out. So much time and effort has gone into making this a brilliant event for spectators as well as competitors, so we ask that everyone comes along, has a fantastic time and keeps themselves and others as safe as possible in the process by following the guidelines suggested. Please do not attend if you’re displaying any Covid-19 symptoms and, ideally, protect yourself and others by being double vaccinated.”

Extensive race day coverage will be available on the series’ digital platforms, with highlights being broadcast on ITV4 at 7pm on Monday.

Defending men’s and women’s champions Canyon dhb SunGod and CAMS-Basso are among the 28 teams competing in the event. Ten of the teams competing will be new to the event.

Mick Bennett, Tour Series race director, said: “It’s great to be able to welcome the ten new teams to the Tour Series alongside those established squads who have supported the event and provided us with so many unforgettable moments for many years. This year’s series feels too close to call .”