The full route of the Darlington to Redcar stage of the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain has now been announced.
The peloton will set off on the second stage of the tour from Darlington on September 4, heading east through Middleton St George and onto Eaglescliffe and Yarm.
There will be an intermediate sprint at Stokesley before the riders wind their way into the North York Moors National Park.
Heading east, the route tackles a series of unclassified climbs around Commondale, Castleton, and Danby, before the first King of the Mountains climb above Ugglebarnby, averaging over 8% across its one-kilometre length.
The race then drops down to Robin Hood’s Bay, to tackle the second climb rising up Raw Pasture Bank from almost sea level at an average of 7.5%, the route then heads on north past Whitby Abbey to descend into the famous North Yorkshire seaside town.
Stage two’s final categorised climb is the 1.7 kilometres of Lythe Bank, averaging 7.7% as it ascends from Sandsend, ultimately taking the race past Staithes into Redcar & Cleveland, where it will tackle a lap made up of many of the roads used in June’s Lloyds Bank British National Road Race Championships, won by Ethan Hayter.
The lap allows for two ascents of Saltburn Bank, the 300-metre climb averaging over 14%, but including a section at 22% could prove a springboard for the winning move, with the top inside the final ten kilometres.
After over 2,500 metres of ascent in the stage, the final few kilometres alongside the North Sea between Marske-by-the-Sea and Redcar will offer some respite, but the exposed nature of Coast Road means that the wind could pose a final challenge to overcome in the home stretch to Zetland Park.
Men's Tour of Britain Men Race Director Rod Ellingworth, said: "The tough opening to this year's Men's Tour of Britain Men intensifies on stage two with another day that is relentless up and down as we cross the Tees Valley and the North York Moors. Two years ago, the climbs in this area provided decisive in the race and we are sure they will once again shape the overall general classification battle.
"Thanks to our partners across the Tees Valley, in Darlington, Stockton, and Redcar & Cleveland, plus stakeholders in North Yorkshire, we have put together a route that showcases some fantastic moorland and coastal scenery, while also providing plenty of opportunities for attacking and entertaining riding.
"I've no doubt that the closing kilometres of racing, with the double ascent of Saltburn Bank, will be among the most spectacular in this year's Men's Tour of Britain Men."
Following the opening pair of stages the Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men heads to South Yorkshire, the East Midlands, and West Northamptonshire, before concluding in Suffolk on Sunday 8 September after six stages of racing.
More details of the Men's Tour of Britain Men, including the routes of the remaining stages, detailed stage timings and competing teams will be announcing in the coming weeks.
All the Tour of Britain stages in full:
Stage one: Tuesday 3 September - Kelso to Kelso
Stage two: Wednesday 4 September - Darlington to Redcar
Stage three: Thursday 5 September - Sheffield to Barnsley
Stage four: Friday 6 September - Derby to Newark-on-Trent
Stage five: Saturday 7 September - Northampton to Northampton
Stage six: Sunday 8 September - Lowestoft to Felixstowe
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here