WORLD class cyclists will be speeding their way through Ilminster later this year following the announcement of the route for the 2010 Tour of Britain event.

The Tour is once again gearing up for another two-day spectacle of cycle racing in Devon and Somerset on September 14-15.

The planned two regional stages will cover 216 miles of the counties and comes midway through the eight-day race.

Stage Five on September 15 will start in the West Devon town of Tavistock and then race across Dartmoor before heading back over the Blackdown Hills to Somerset taking in Staple Fitzpaine, Ilminster, Curry Rivel and Langport before finishing at Glastonbury.

Somerset County Council’s Tour of Britain project manager, Graham Bagley, is delighted that the cycling extravaganza is returning to this area.

“This is the fourth time that The Tour of Britain has come to Somerset and with each year, support and enthusiasm for the race has grown,” he said.

“The two South West stages are likely to prove a tough challenge for this year’s cyclists and will provide a great sight for spectators.”

Mr Bagley added: “Last year, lots of towns and villages along the race routes celebrated by holding their own community events which created a great atmosphere in the build up to the race passing through – we hope that even more local communities will be inspired to do a similar thing this year.”

Stage Four of the race on September 14 will start at Minehead and finish at Teignmouth.