The route for Stage Five of the Tour of Britain has been revealed bringing the world's top cyclists to some of Suffolk's most picturesque towns and villages and prompting a six-day festival in one of the county's seaside towns.

For the first time since 2017, Suffolk will welcome the Tour of Britain, the UK's most prestigious cycle race.

The race will start and finish in Felixstowe on Thursday, July 7 September.

Cyclists will then go through Ipswich, Hadleigh, Needham Market, Stowmarket, Debenham, Framlingham, Leiston, Snape and Woodbridge.

As part of the teaser's leading up to this announcement, images have been projected on three Suffolk landmarks by race sponsors, Motion Mapping.

These include the Orwell Bridge, Framlingham Castle and an Apache helicopter at Wattisham Airbase.

The cyclists will go past these three landmarks, as well as Snape Maltings, Constable Country in East Bergholt and Royal Hospital School in Holbrook.

Councillor Seamus Bennett, Mayor of Felixstowe, said: "Felixstowe loves welcoming top cycling events.

"We hosted the first-ever Women's Tour in 2014 and after successfully hosting the final stage of the Women's Tour in 2021, it's really exciting to welcome the Men's Tour of Britain to our beautiful town, with a seaside finish."

East Anglian Daily Times: The route for Stage Five of the Tour of Britain held solely in Suffolk. Credit: Tour of BritainThe route for Stage Five of the Tour of Britain held solely in Suffolk. Credit: Tour of Britain (Image: Tour of Britain)

Ipswich, Framlingham and Woodbridge are the only locations to feature again this year and also saw cyclists in 2017 the last time Suffolk had the race, which was from Newmarket to Aldeburgh.

Kate Cain, manager of Felixstowe BID, said: "We are so excited to host the Tour of Britain stage final in September and have built a six-day 'Love Felixstowe' festival around the event to draw visitors into town, not just for the festival, but I see it as an opportunity to showcase Felixstowe as a great place to live and visit.

"The last time the tour came to town, there was a mixed response from businesses, this time I want everyone to get involved and benefit from the six-day festival that's been planned to include as many businesses as possible.

"Felixstowe has so much to offer, with new ventures starting and small ventures growing.

"It's been a hard time for some, but this is a chance for Felixstowe to get noticed and capitalise on our variety of shops, food and drink options, attractions and the award-winning beaches we're best known for.

"We hope all our local businesses will get involved at some level and enjoy a legacy of repeat business."

More than 30 million people watched the tour around the world in 2019, with 1.4million turning out in person to support around the UK, in 2019, with the tour contributing around £19million to the economy.

Mick Bennett, race director for the Tour of Britain, said: "It has been great to see famous locations in Suffolk illuminated with the Tour of Britain brand and we now look forward to lighting up the county with some exciting racing from the world's best teams and riders in September."