Race and spectator information
The opening stage of this year’s Lloyds Bank Tour of Britain Men starts and finishes in Kelso on Tuesday 3 September and is entirely contained within the Scottish Borders.
The event will include some of the world's top professional cycling teams and riders, including double Olympic gold medallist Remco Evenepoel, two-Olympic champion Tom Pidcock and two-time World Champion Julian Alaphilippe.
A provisional start list is now available and also includes Oscar Onley, from Kelso, who will wear race number 34, and Callum Thornley, from Peebles, who will wear 122.
Spectator parking
Kelso
Free parking for spectators visiting Kelso will be available at Borders Events Centre, Springwood Park, TD5 8LS. This will be available from 7.30am to 6pm.
Parking for Blue Badge holders will be available at the Coalmarket car park, managed by stewards.
Melrose
Free parking for spectators and those attending fringe events in Melrose will be available along one side of both Annay Road and Dean Road, up to 9.30pm.
On route
Spectators viewing the race along the route are asked to abide by any parking restrictions in place and park sensibly, both in respect of not blocking the race route or causing any obstruction to resident and agricultural traffic.
Business offers
A number of businesses have special offers to celebrate the day. These are listed on the Borders.co.uk website.
Race route
The 181.9-kilometre (113.1-mile) route is particularly spectator friendly thanks to the inclusion of a loop, which means the riders will pass through a number of communities twice, including Melrose, and over the Dingleton and Scott's View climbs twice. A map of the route can be downloaded from the British Cycling website.
From Kelso the race will first head east alongside the River Tweed to Coldstream, turning north and west via Greenlaw, Gordon and Smailholm to the first ascent of the scenic viewpoint of Scott’s View.
The 2.5 kilometre climb averages 2.5%, and is followed within 10 kilometres by the tougher 6.2% average gradient of the two kilometre climb of Dingleton, in the Eildon Hills above Melrose.
The route continues south to Denholm, climbing Dunion Hill (three kilometres at 5.4%) and descending into Jedburgh before returning to Kelso alongside the River Teviot.
Riders will then repeat the intermediate sprint in Melrose and the King of the Mountains climbs at Scott’s View and Dingleton, the latter coming with just under 23 kilometres of racing remaining, to set up a thrilling chase back to the cobbled finish in Kelso.
The stage will also feature three intermediate sprints, where time bonuses and points for the sprinters jersey are available, the first coming in Melrose after 75 kilometres of racing, and the second in Kelso (128km) on the first passage of the finish line with just over an hour of the stage remaining. The Melrose sprint will then be tackled for a second time after 156 kilometres.
Race timings
The race will start at 10.30am.
The following timings are estimated, based on various rider speeds. Lead cars will pass through 15 minutes ahead of the race. Full timings for the whole route are available to download from British Cycling's website.
- Coldstream - 11am to 11.04am
- Greenlaw - 11.28am to 11.38am
- Gordon - 11.39am to 11.51am
- Smailholm - 11.51am to 12.05pm
- Scott's View - 12.09pm to 12.27pm
- Melrose - 12.21pm to 12.43pm
- Denholm - 12.48pm to 1.16pm
- Jedburgh - 1pm to 1.30pm
- Kelso (1st pass of finish line) - 1.30pm to 2.06pm
- Scott's View - 1.52pm to 2.34pm
- Melrose - 2.05pm to 2.50pm
- Jnc A68 at St Boswells - 2.18pm to 3.05pm
- Kelso (finish) - 2.38pm to 3.30pm