Sports fans who want to really get close to world class stars will be able to do so in Evesham this Saturday.

The pro cyclists taking part in the OVO Energy Women’s tour will assemble there at the start of the fourth stage on Saturday before racing over a course of 130km (80 miles) through the county and small parts of Warwickshire and Gloucester before the finish at the riverside in Worcester.

While thousands lining the roads might get a glimpse of the riders as they flash past, there’s plenty of fun and entertainment to be found at the start in Evesham.

The team buses with the riders will arrive at Merstow Green in the town at 8am.

Riders will sign in and be introduced at the podium, and set off at 10.15am.

Between arrival and the start of the race, spectators may see the riders warm up and their mechanics prepare their gleaming, light-as-a-feather racing machines.

Race controller Guy Elliott, a Worcestershire-resident himself, will be in the lead car as the race rolls out of Vine Street and drop the flag a few kilometres later as the racing begins in earnest.

He said: “Cycling is always the most accessible of sports. People say ‘why would you go to the start?’ But that’s where you can see the riders the best. And they don’t hide in the team buses.

“They’re focussed on the race but generally pretty happy to say hello.”

If the prospect of beautiful bikes and half a dozen world and Olympic champions isn’t enough, there will also be street performances and entertainment from the Hedgemen – an innovative, and frankly bizarre troupe of ‘living hedges’ whose antics have delighted such figures as Prince Charles and Prince Andrew.

Once the race has set off, there’s enough time to get to one of the major climbs at Snowshill or Atch Lench north of Evesham or even the fast finish in Worcester.