Penzance welcomes the Grand Départ of the Tour of Britain cycle race this weekend.

It will be the first time that Cornwall has hosted the event, which will see some of the world’s best cyclists racing from Penzance over 111 miles across the Duchy to a sprint finish in Bodmin.

The stage route will also visit St Just, St Ives, Hayle, Camborne, Pool, Redruth, Falmouth, Penryn, Truro, Newquay and St Austell.

While the race itself gets underway from the Western Promenade at 11am on Sunday, September 5, a number of events are taking place across Cornwall this weekend to celebrate the rate, from the very first firework above Penzance Harbour on Saturday evening to the last puff of a Bodmin steam train on Sunday.

Cllr Stephen Rushworth, who has overseen the Tour of Britain planning for Cornwall Council’s Cabinet, said: “This may not quite be on the scale of the Tokyo Olympics, but it its way Cornwall is putting just as much energy and effort into marking this great sporting occasion.

“Whether or not the sport of cycling makes your heart race, there will be plenty of other action and entertainment to enjoy along the way.”

For full details of all the community events taking place, as well as the race route and timings, click here.