After careful consideration, the organisers of the 2020 Tour of Britain, which was due to start in Cornwall in September, have taken the decision to postpone until next year.

British Cycling along with the various stage hosts, including Cornwall Council, have decided it would be impossible to manage a safe race this year in light of the current Covid-19 restrictions.

The decision has been made to switch the locations chosen for 2020 to the following year, meaning Cornwall is still scheduled to host the opening leg of the race.

It will be the first time the prestigious event has been seen in Cornwall.

The decision to postpone was taken after the event organisers acknowledged increasing challenges in their ability to manage a safe race in September 2020.

Local concerns had also been raised over the ability to plan for such a large-scale event during such an uncertain period of time.

Cllr Tim Dwelly, Cornwall Council's portfolio holder for culture, economy and planning, said:

"While it is disappointing to see the race postponed for this year, there really was no choice for the organisers.

"Hosting an event like the Tour of Britain takes a lot of hard work and preparation. The postponement of the race is an understandable development as we are dealing with the effects of a global pandemic.

"I am delighted that the organisers have agreed to simply push the race back for 12 months. Our team has already carried out an immense amount of work for this year's race, and this will prove essential when it comes to successfully hosting the opening stage next year.

"Having the Tour of Britain in Cornwall offers us a chance to show our wonderful corner of the world off to a global audience, and will provide a much-needed boost for our towns and our tourist industry next year."

The dates for the 2021 event are from Sunday 5 to Sunday 12 September. The existing race arrangements will continue to apply and the route for Cornwall will remain the same, with the start in Penzance and finish in Bodmin.

The stage's route will also visit St Just, St Ives, Hayle, Camborne, Pool, Redruth, Falmouth, Penryn, Truro, Newquay and St Austell.