People are urged to plan their journeys through Cumbria next Monday as the county welcomes the return of the Tour of Britain.

The country's premier road cycling event will be seeing its second stage weave through Cumbria from Carlisle to Kendal, taking in many of the areas which were hit by flooding and storms last winter.

County council leaders have today issued a fresh appeal for drivers and those travelling to plan ahead to help minimise disruption.

Crowds are expected at many key points along the 117-mile route as some of the world's top pro riders compete.

They include Team GB Olympic heroes Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish.

Some key points and timings along the route are:

  • 11am: Start on English Street, Carlisle
  • 11.46am - 11.54am: Riders approach Penrith
  • 12.47pm – 1.09pm: 1st Sprint through Hesket Newmarket
  • 1.21pm – 1.50pm: 2nd Sprint through Cockermouth
  • 1.32pm – 2.10pm: 1st King of the Mountains climb, Whinlatter Pass
  • 1.48pm – 2.26pm: 2nd King of the Mountains climb, Chestnut Hill, Keswick
  • 2.13pm – 2.54pm: 3rd Sprint through Grasmere
  • 2.21pm – 3.12pm: 3rd King of the Mountains climb, The Struggle, Ambleside
  • 2.55pm – 3.45pm: Finish on Beast Banks, Kendal

Road chiefs say that all timings are approximate with earlier times referring to the expected times that the lead riders will be passing through. Later times are when most riders are expected to have passed.

Traffic and parking restrictions will be in place on a number of roads in the centre of Carlisle from 6pm on Sunday until 1pm on Monday.

Once the race officially gets underway in Carlisle at 11am on Monday, a rolling road closure will be in place as the riders progress along the route.

Roads affected are likely to be closed for approximately 30 minutes while the cyclists and support teams pass through.

Every effort will be made to keep any disruption to a minimum but drivers should expect some delays on race day.

Access for pedestrians and cyclists will be maintained throughout.

The Struggle in Ambleside and the A592 from Brothers Water down to the roundabout with A591 will be closed to traffic from 9am.

Spectators are advised to park in Ambleside and walk or cycle up to vantage points for the third King of the Mountains climb.

A number of roads will be closed in the centre of Kendal for the race climax.

A road closure encompassing Stricklandgate and Highgate, from Library Road to the Town Hall, Market Place, Branthwaite Brow, Finkle Street and Allhallows Lane will be in place from 2pm to 5pm.

A number of roads in and around the finish on Beast Banks, Kendal, will also be closed from 11pm on Sunday until 10pm on Monday.

A year ago, two stages of the Tour of Britain 2015 took place partly in Cumbria and boosted the local economy by nearly £3.4 million.

A total of 105,000 spectators attended the two stages in Cumbria, with 55 per cent coming from outside the county.

This year's Cumbria stage of the Tour of Britain is sponsored by United Utilities, Carlisle City Council, Allerdale Borough Council, Eden District Council, South Lakeland District Council, University of Cumbria, Lake District National Park Authority and Cumbria County Council.