The route for this year’s Tour of Britain, the first since the race was recognised as a 2.HC race, has been unveiled.

Opening with a city centre circuit in Liverpool, the race includes its toughest-ever summit finish on the Tumble, Swansea, and a split-stage in London with an individual time trial and a criterium on the final day.

As part of the upgrade in status, however, strict rules must be adhered to – including shorter transfers between stages.

We caught up with race director Mick Bennett, and you can read his stage-by-stage analysis by following this link.