IN just 100 days time Birkenhead Park will host the world's top cyclists for Britain's biggest professional cycle race.

The OVO Energy Tour of Britain will head to Wirral as it hosts both the start and finish of Stage Five of the race on Wednesday, September 11.

Stage Five will start and finish at Birkenhead Park and the route will also pass through the finish line within the park before competing a lap of Birkenhead and Wallasey.

Cllr Christine Spriggs, cabinet member for culture and tourism at Wirral Council told the Globe: “This year Wirral is the Liverpool City Region Borough of Culture.

"We’ve got a hugely exciting programme of events lined up, and the OVO Energy Tour of Britain is the jewel in our crown.

"Wirral truly does have something for everyone and it’s no wonder our visitor numbers get bigger every year.

Wirral Globe:

“It was only last week when we welcomed more than 10,000 cycling fans to Hamilton Square for a fantastic Tour Series event.

"I hope everyone who enjoyed that event, and thousands more, get down to Birkenhead Park in September for another not-to-be missed event.

"It’s such an exciting time for our borough and we can’t wait to welcome the world’s best cyclists to Birkenhead Park.”

The 108 mile stage will leave Wirral passing through Port Sunlight before racing through Cheshire West and Chester - including passing the Airbus UK manufacturing facility at Broughton.

Then, the route will return, racing through Heswall, Caldy and Hoylake before passing through the Birkenhead Park finish line and taking in a loop through Seacombe, Wallasey and New Brighton.

OVO Energy Tour Series race director Mick Bennett said: “Everyone saw the support that the OVO Energy Tour Series generated in Birkenhead and now we are looking forward to making an even bigger impact with the OVO Energy Tour of Britain.

“Since we announced in January that the race would be coming to Wirral we have had amazing support from Wirral Council and their partners, plus a great reception from the Merseyside public.

"I am sure this is going to be a memorable stage with incredible community support across the route.”

The announcement comes just over a week after Wirral Council successfully hosted a round of the OVO Energy Tour Series for the first time, with Hamilton Square welcoming elite men’s and women’s racing - attracting more than 10,000 spectators.

The 2019 OVO Energy Tour of Britain begins in George Square, Glasgow on Saturday, September 7 and finishes overall in Manchester city centre on Saturday, September 14.

ITV4 will once again screen live free-to-air coverage of each stage, along with a nightly highlights programme of the best of the action.