Bath’s economy is in line for a boost later this year when the Tour of Britain – British Cycling’s premier road cycling event – returns to the city.
Stage Five of the race will finish in Bath on September 8 and will be shown live on ITV4 and around the world. 
The announcement, made last night, builds on the success of Bath hosting a stage start of the 2014 Tour of Britain and last year’s final round of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series. Thousands of residents and visitors lined the streets of the city to welcome the riders – with the city’s Georgian architecture providing a stunning backdrop for broadcasters.
Bath and North East Somerset Council said hosting the event would enhance the city’s global reputation and give its economy a fillip as well as encouraging residents to get fit.
Cabinet member for community services, Councillor Martin Veal, said: “These events, as well as bringing thousands of visitors into the city, provide an opportunity for residents of all ages to be inspired by top class elite athletes.
“This is particularly beneficial for children and young people, with schools heavily involved in the event, and fits in with the council’s Fit For Life strategy.
“There will also be opportunities for everyone, whatever their ability, to get involved in community cycling events that will be taking place across the region during the summer in the lead up to the event in September.”
Details of the exact route and where the stage will finish in the city will be announced in the coming months the council and organisers SweetSpot.
Tour of Britain Race director Mick Bennett said: “Having hosted a start of the Tour of Britain and last year’s final round of the Pearl Izumi Tour Series we are pleased this year to be working with Bath and North East Somerset Council to bring a stage finish to the historic city of Bath for the first time in the modern race.
“It begins the first of three days of racing in the South West of England that we know will appeal to the number of cycling and sports fans in the area, and what better way to start this than by racing into as iconic a location as Bath.”
The Tour of Britain will begin in Glasgow on Sunday September 4 and finish in the heart of London a week later. In addition to the stage finish in Bath, Devon and Bristol will also host stages of the 2016 race.
Daily live coverage of all eight stages of the tour will be broadcast on ITV4, with the channel screening a three-hour live programme from each stage, plus one-hour of highlights every evening during the race.
