The sixth stage of the race, on Friday, September 7, will start in Barrow-in-Furness, Cumbria – home to BAE Systems' submarine site, where the Astute and Dreadnought class submarines are being designed and built.
Race organisers expect more than 20,000 spectators to descend on Barrow for the start of the race. From Barrow, the riders will cycle through Ulverston, Whitehaven and Workington, before finishing at Whinlatter in the picturesque Cumbrian Lake District.
Employing nearly 9,000 people, the majority of whom live local to its Barrow site, BAE Systems Submarines has strong links with its local community.
Cliff Robson, BAE Systems Submarines Managing Director, said: "We are delighted to be supporting such a prestigious national sporting event, taking place right here in the heart of our community.
Councillor Keith Little, Cumbria County Council Cabinet member for Transport, said: “This is fantastic news and we’re thrilled that Cumbria has been chosen for two stages of the Tour of Britain. Nowhere else in the country has been given this honour before and it’s a real coup for Cumbria.
“This is a huge opportunity for us to make the most of this from a tourist and economic perspective, and also to get even more people interested and enthused about cycling.
"We’ll be working with our district partners, schools, Cumbria Tourism, Lake District National Park, Forestry Commission, BAE Systems, United Utilities and also local businesses to make the most of this fantastic opportunity.”
