From Greenwich Park to the Mall, competitors will pass some of the Capital's key landmarks, including the Houses of Parliament before finishing on The Mall with an exciting 20-lap chase, with the winner crossing the finish line in the shadow of Buckingham Palace.

 

Transport for London is running a special BikeFest event to coincide with the final stage, with activities and advice to encourage people to take up cycling.

 

"I am very happy to see world class cycling coming to the capital," said Sebastian Coe, chairman of the London Organising Committee for the Olympic Games.

 

"It is a great prelude to the Biritish leg of the Tour de France next year, and of course for the London Olympic Games and Paralympic Games in 2012."
 

 

The final stage starts in Greenwich, where the Old Royal Naval College is opening its doors to visitors for a day all about famous pirates with connections to this historical site. The race takes in Regent’s Park, Hyde Park, Green Park and St James’s Park

 

Before that the race will climb north via Parliament Hill and Highgate Hill, before dropping back down to town for its final miles.

 

The Tour of Britain is a blue riband cycling event that returned to the British cycling calendar in 2004 after an absence of five years. Cycling is a hugely popular sport and British cyclists are among the best in the world, winning five gold medals in the 2004 Olympics and Paralympics.

 

The Tour of Britain has formerly been known as the Milk Race, the Kellogg’s Tour and the Pru Tour of Britain. Our aspiration was to re-launch the event along the lines of the Tour de France, which has no title sponsor but a spectrum of public and private sector support.