Carlisle city centre will be the venue on Wednesday for the start of one of the six national stages of the 2005 Tour of Britain.

The 100-mile North West stage will finish in Blackpool and will include the Shap Fells and sprints in Shap, Kendal and Hornby.

The event is expected to provide a boost for the local economy.

Tourism rewards

Carlisle City Council leader Mike Mitchelson said: "Carlisle is making its mark in the 2005 sporting calendar as the city was also put in the international spotlight when it recently hosted a stage of the Pirelli rally.

"We look forward to providing a warm welcome to the Tour of Britain competitors and supporters.

"When the city has previously staged events of this kind, they have reaped great rewards for tourism providers and attracted hundreds of spectators."

The Cumbria stage is being sponsored by the North West Regional Development Agency.

The cyclists will set off from Carlisle Castle on Wednesday morning.

Traffic will be temporarily suspended on Castle Way.