SOME of the best cyclists in the world will be racing through the region next week.

And Borders fans will have the opportunity to witness three different King of the Mountains climbs as well as a stage finish in Kelso.

The Aviva Tour of Britain will race into the Borders on Tuesday morning near Newcastleton before pedalling through Hawick, Selkirk, Tweedbank, Melrose, and Maxton before the finish at Floors Castle.

The following day the riders will pass through the Lammermuir Hills, Duns and Coldstream as they race from Edinburgh to Blyth in Northumberland.

Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins and record 26-times Tour de France stage winner Mark Cavendish are both saddling up for the nine-stage race.

Cavendish, who will lead a strong Etixx Quick-Step team, said: “I’m excited to ride the Tour of Britain.

“It’s my home tour and it’s always something special to ride in front of your national crowd. It’s already my eighth time at the race and year-by-year I can see how cycling is growing in this nation.

“We are at the start to try to be successful as we were last year. We have a strong team and we are ready to race. This year the course is extremely difficult.” As part of the build up to the Tour coming through the Borders, a 30-mile road race has been organised by Kelso Wheelers this weekend as well as an off-road race and family bike ride.

And fans are being encouraged to decorate their old bikes to help brighten up the route for the cyclists arriving next Tuesday.

With a potential audience of around 280 million people worldwide, coverage if live on ITV4 and Eurosport, the local authority is urging everyone to go roadside and support the cyclists.

Economic development spokesman Stuart Bell said: “It is estimated that the value of the media coverage alone will be around £3 million, so this is a unique chance for us to show the UK and the rest of the world that the Scottish Borders not only has some of the very best scenery in the country but is also a top international cycling destination.

“This is an incredible opportunity for the Borders, and nothing will quite show our enthusiasm for hosting internationally recognised events like the Tour of Britain than having thousands of people out on the streets of our towns and villages to cheer on the riders.

“The chance to witness some of the fastest road cyclists in the world battle for glory over Kelso’s famous cobbles and through the main gate of Floors Castle is one not to be missed.” This is the first time that the Borders has hosted a stage finish of the Tour, although the region has featured in the race on several previous occasions.

The Tour last visited the area in 2013, when Peebles hosted the race’s Grand Depart, and stages also started from Peebles in 2009 and 2011 and from Jedburgh in 2012.

The lead cars are expected to reach Newcastleton at around 1pm next Tuesday.

The first King of the Mountains climb at Wauchope will take place at around 1.30pm before the riders pass through Bonchester Bridge at around 2pm and then through Hawick about 15 minutes later.

They will take part in the second King of the Mountains climb on Wilton Hill before reaching Selkirk at around 2.30pm.

The route takes the peloton past Abbotsford and Tweedbank at around 2.45pm before they face the third King of the Mountains climb out of Melrose towards Bowden Loch just before 3pm.

They will pass through St Boswells at 3.15pm and Maxton a few minutes later before arriving at Floors Castle around 3.35pm.

Rolling road closures will be managed by Police Scotland.

There will also be some parking restrictions along the route and a full road closure will be in place on Roxburgh Street, Kelso from 5am on Tuesday.