SOME of the world's top cyclists are set to speed through Bolton for the first leg of the Tour of Britain race.

Stage one sees participants ride 120 miles through Greater Manchester and Lancashire on Wednesday, September 1.

Sixteen of the world's leading cycling teams are taking part in the event, which returns after a five-year absence and has been granted elite status by the sport's governing body, the UCI.

The format of the five-day event will mirror the famous Tour De France, with five stages taking place in locations across the country and four million spectators expected along the route. Stage one starts at Manchester Sportcity at 10.30am on September 1, with competitors cycling to Blackpool and back.

There will be three King of the Mountain challenges along the route.

Riders will pass through Prestwich at approximately 10.40am, up the A56 Bury New Road/Manchester Road to Bury at 10.50am, then up Brandlesholme Road, Longsight Road and Bolton Road West to Ramsbottom for 11.05am.

They will then endure a gruelling climb out of Bury up The Rake and Helmshore Road for the first King of the Mountains challenge. The race will continue over Pendle and Clitheroe and on to Blackpool, before heading back through Freckleton, Preston and Chorley towards Bolton.

The race is due to pass through Bolton at 2.30pm. It will pass through Belmont, down Egerton Road, before heading on to the A666, and travelling along Green Arms Road, via the B6213 through Tottington, reaching Bury at 3pm and racing back down the A56 to the Salford boundary.

The stage ends at Urbis in Manchester at 3.15pm. With further stages in Yorkshire, the East Midlands, and South Wales, the Tour reaches its climax in Westminster on Sunday, September 5.