KNOWSLEY will welcome the return of The Tour of Britain for a third year in succession this September, when the race returns to the borough on Monday, September 8.

The start of Stage Two of The Tour will depart from Knowsley Safari, for the second day of racing.

The venue  first hosted The Tour of Britain in 2012, when Australian Leigh Howard narrowly outsprinted Mark Cavendish for the stage win in Knowsley Safari Park.

A year on and Sir Bradley Wiggins was the stage winner, taking victory in a 16-kilometre time trial in and around Knowsley on his way to overall victory in The Tour of Britain.

“We are looking forward to continuing our excellent relationship with Knowsley Council in 2014 as Knowsley host their first Tour of Britain stage start,” said Race Director Mick Bennett.

“The past two years we have enjoyed great support from spectators in Merseyside, so I am sure riders can look forward to more of the same ahead of a very tough stage to North Wales.”

At just under 200-kilometres, Stage Two will take the race into North Wales to the stage finish in Llandudno, via Wrexham, Flintshire and Denbighshire.

The stage will also mark the second opportunity for cycling fans in the North West to see the world’s top riders, with Liverpool having hosted the opening stage, a ten-lap, 130-kilometre race around the city centre.

The 2014 Tour of Britain will begin in Liverpool on Sunday, September 7, finishing eight days later in central London with a double-header final day, featuring an individual time trial and circuit race finishing on Whitehall.

This year’s Tour of Britain will be the first ranked at the 2.HC level following an upgrade during the winter by the UCI, the sport’s governing body.

More information on the 2014 Tour of Britain can be found at www.thetour.co.uk