The world's top cyclists will be coming to Bath this year as the city hosts one of the stages of the Tour of Britain.
Previous years have seen big names competing in the prestigious race, including Sir Bradley Wiggins - who won it last year - Mark Cavendish and Chris Froome.
It is the first time in its 11-year history that it has gone through Bath, and this September participants will be treated to some of the city's best views.
They will set off from the Royal Avenue, which runs through Royal Victoria Park and underneath the Royal Crescent, before completing a lap through the streets of Bath.
Councillor David Dixon, Bath and North East Somerset Council's cabinet member for neighbourhoods, said the local authority was keen to make the Tour of Britain coming through the city a springboard for a weekend of cycling activities.
He said: "We are honoured to be hosting a start stage here in Bath, which I'm sure many will agree is the most beautiful backdrop to showcase such a prestigious event.
"I know that our communities will be 100 per cent on board in welcoming the riders, teams and spectators to the city which starts a weekend of cycling activities and events across the whole area, building upon the council's aspirations for ensuring our communities are fit for life, our commitment to the delivery of first class facilities for sport and recreation; which in turn supports our thriving economy."
The 2014 Tour of Britain will start in Liverpool on Sunday, September 7, before travelling from Knowsley in Merseyside to Llandudo, Newtown in Powys to the Tumble in Monmouthshire, Worcester to Bristol and then Exmouth to Exeter.
The sixth stage on Friday, September 12 will start in Bath and then head east from the city, skirting Salisbury Plain on its way to the Chilterns and finishing in Hemel Hempstead.
The race will then move on from Camberley to Brighton before London hosts the individual time trial and circuit race on Sunday, September 14.
It will be televised live in the UK on ITV4, as well as being broadcast across the globe, and will feature 18 of the world's top professional cycling teams, including Team Sky.
Race director Mick Bennett said: "Bringing the Tour of Britain to Bath will be a first for the modern era of the race and one that we are very much looking forward to.
"Bath is a world famous visitor destination around the world, so in the first year that The Tour of Britain has achieved the upgraded HC status it is fitting to be starting a stage there."
In previous years the tour has gone through areas of Devon and Somerset, with the region reporting that it generated millions of pounds for the local economy.
For more information about the Bath stage of the Tour of Britain go to www.bathnes.gov.uk/tourofbritain, while detailed information of the race as a whole can be found at www.thetour.co.uk.
