By Alan Quick

CROWDS of people lined the streets of Crediton two years ago to see The Tour of Britain cycle race pass through the town – and they are expected to do so again when Devon County Council (DCC) hosts Stage Six of The Tour of Britain, on Friday, September 9.

The world’s top cycling teams and riders will race from Sidmouth on the East Devon coast to the summit of Haytor on Dartmoor in Stage Six of the race.

It has now been announced that Crediton will host one of three designated Yodel Sprints.

The Sprint will take place in Crediton High Street.

The three sprints as well as three designated King of the Mountain challenges, are hotly-contested.

On each of these special stages, riders can pick up points which accumulate towards different jerseys and financial bonuses within the overall race.

British Cycling’s premier road cycling event will go from Sidmouth to Ottery St Mary, Honiton and Willand, then Tiverton and along the A3072 from Bickleigh to Crediton, up Crediton High Street and through Copplestone and Bow to de Bathe Cross, near North Tawton and Whiddon Down to Moretonhampstead, Haldon Forest, and Chudleigh before climbing from Bovey Tracey to the only summit finish of The Tour at Haytor.

The Devon Stage is being hosted by Devon County Council (DCC), and partners Teignbridge District Council, East Devon District Council, Sidmouth Town Council and Dartmoor National Park.

The stage is almost a repeat of 2013 - that year almost 250,000 spectators lined the county’s roads to help boost the local economy by £5.9m.

But with only one in three children physically active every day, this year Devon County Council is using the Tour to inspire more children to take up sport.

The Devon stage is only 150km long (93miles)  but the riders need to take care not to get complacent, as there is barely a mile of flat terrain.

The riders will be challenged almost from the start line as the race travels through the rolling hills of East and Mid Devon before making its way onto Dartmoor where those hoping for a chance at overall victory will have to make their attack.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council’s Cabinet Member for Highways with a remit for cycling said: “We’re proud that once again Devon will be a key feature of the race, starting in beautiful Sidmouth and providing the Tour’s only summit finish.

“This isn’t just great worldwide exposure for our county, but in times of worrying growth in levels of physical inactivity among all sections of the population this is also an opportunity to inspire youngsters to take up sport and activity.

“Cycling is something that can be both a hobby but also a great way of incorporating physical activity into your journeys to work or school.

"That’s why over the last year more than 7,400 children in Devon have taken part in Bikeability over the past year and another 3,500 are in the process of going through it.

“Devon County Council will be contacting all the schools on the route over the coming weeks to ensure that as many of them as possible are lining the routes cheering on the athletes.”

Mick Bennett, Race Director, Tour of Britain, said: "The return of the Tour of Britain to Devon after a year away has been much anticipated and the climb of Haytor will once again be a key moment in this year’s race route, coming towards the end of a hard week’s racing.  The Devon stage is always known for its fantastic crowds, in particular on Haytor and Dartmoor, so we look forward to seeing many more hundreds of thousands of fans lining the route come September, and in particular joining us for the summit finish.

"We have worked with our partners at Devon County Council to create a route that is challenging for the riders, picturesque for the worldwide television audience and takes in a number of towns and communities to bring the Tour of Britain to as many fans as possible."

The other Yodel Sprints will take place at Tiverton and in Fore Street, Chudleigh.

The King of the Mountains will take place at Chineway Hill, Dunchideock, Haytor and at Cadbury Hill between Tiverton and Crediton.

Cadbury Hill has not been used in this direction by the Tour of Britain before.

The Tour of Britain will begin in Glasgow on Sunday, September 4 and finish in the heart of London on Sunday, September 11, including stages in the Lake District, Wales and Bath and Bristol.

For the fifth successive year fans can look forward to enjoying daily live coverage of all eight stages on ITV4, with the channel broadcasting a three-hour live programme from each stage, plus one-hour of highlights every evening during the race.

The event gives cycling fans the opportunity to see the world’s best teams and riders competing on their doorstep.

A summary of the Devon stage can be viewed at: http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk/stages/stage6/index.php#.Vx9tcz_NUys .

Follow the Tour at: https://twitter.com/swtourofbritain or go to the website: www.devontourofbritain.co.uk for the latest information.