Thousands of people will be lining the streets of the North East on Wednesday to watch the stage two of the Tour of Britain 2024.

The Tees Valley is hosting a full stage of the world-class cycling race which begins in the Scottish Borders tomorrow (Tuesday, September 3).

After the first day of cycling the racers will head to the North East, starting off in Darlington town centre.

For anyone cycling to the start, sheltered, lockable bike parking is available in the Town Hall plaza, just a short walk away from the start line.

Fans will be able to watch the teams and riders prepare for the stage in the Market Square, with riders being presented to the crowd team-by-team on the podium from 9.50am ahead of the stage start at 11am when the 18 teams will leave from West Row below the Darlington clock tower.

The peloton will first head east through Middleton St George and onto Eaglescliffe and Yarm.

There will be an intermediate sprint at Stokesley, North Yorkshire, where fans can see the peloton battle it out for important points in the shadow of historic buildings, such as the St Peter and St Paul’s Church dating back as far as the 12th century, 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 eight per cent 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 per cent, the route then heads on north past Whitby Abbey to descend into the famous North Yorkshire seaside town.

(Image: Tour of Britain)

Stage two’s final categorised climb is the 1.7 kilometres of Lythe Bank, averaging 7.7 per cent 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 includes two ascents of the famous Saltburn Bank, the 300-metre climb averaging over 14 per cent, but including a section at 22 per cent which could prove a springboard for the winning move, with the top inside the final ten kilometres.

After more than 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.

The jersey presentations will take place once the racing has finished, expected to be just before 3pm.

There will also be a fan village in Redcar, with food, drink and entertainment throughout the day.

(Image: Will Palmer/SWpix.com)

One of the biggest names in this year's Tour is Tom Pidcock (of INEOS Grenadiers), the second gold medallist from the Paris 2024 Olympic Games to confirm his participation in the race.

The 25-year-old joins the likes of double Olympic champion Remco Evenepoel, and former race winner Julian Alaphilippe (both Soudal Quick-Step) on the provisional start list for the 20th edition of Britain’s biggest professional cycle race.

Pidcock, who retained his Olympic cross-country mountain biking title in Paris, will head to the Tour of Britain after representing Great Britain in the 2024 UCI MTB World Championship.

Pidcock said: "The Tour of Britain is a really special race for me. Returning to the UK after a such busy year of racing and to pin on numbers in front of the passionate home fans, always provides great motivation.

"I can’t wait to get out there with my INEOS Grenadier teammates in our home race and we look forward to seeing you all out along the road."

For more information on the Tour of Britain, visit the official website at www.britishcycling.org.uk/