INTERNATIONAL stars of cycling will be pedalling through the Malvern Hills and Ledbury next month.

The eighth and final stage of the Tour of Britain will begin in Worcester in the morning of Sunday, September 10, before heading through Pershore and the Malverns to the finishing line in Cardiff.

Mark Cavendish and Geraint Thomas have confirmed they will race if they recover from injury in time.

Other big names confirmed for the race include four-time stage winner Elia Viviani as well as current

world time trial champion Tony Martin.

Current European road champion Alexander Kristoff has confirmed, as has former world champion Michal Kwiatkowski, who won the stage when it last started in Worcester.

Race organisers have now released a detailed timetable for the stage, allowing cycling enthusiasts to select their preferred location of where best to view the race.

The stage starts at Worcester at 11am, and is scheduled to reach Pershore at 11.20am, Defford at 11.30am and Baughton eight minutes later.

The race is scheduled to reach Upton at 11.43am, turning into Church Street and then High Street before heading bout of town towards Welland, which is expected to reach at 11.34am.

The stretch between Marlbank Road and British Camp forms the first King of the Mountain section of the race, after which the riders will head towards Ledbury, arriving at 12.10pm, before heading off towards Cardiff.

Jack Hegarty, chief executive of Malvern Hills District Council, said: "It is fantastic that the Tour of Britain is returning. Cycling is growing in popularity across the country and it will be a great opportunity to see some elite riders in action as well as showcase our beautiful part of the world.”

The Tour of Britain last came to Malvern in September 2014, when crowds gathered in the town centre to cheer the riders as they made their way up Church Street.