Organisers of the Tour of Britain have said there will be plenty of room for people to watch the start and finish of the leg in Cornwall for free after hospitality packages went on sale for as much as £156.

The cycling race is coming to Cornwall for the first time in September after being postponed in 2020 due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Cyclists will start the first leg of the race in Penzance and race across Cornwall before finishing in Bodmin.

The route will take the spectacular race through St Ives, Hayle, Camborne, Pool, Redruth, Falmouth, Penryn, Truro, Newquay, St Austell, and the Eden Project.

It is expected that thousands of people will line the route to catch a glimpse of the top cyclists as they speed past.

However the largest crowds are expected at the start and finish of the event in Penzance and Bodmin on September 5th.

As part of the event hospitality packages are being offered for people who want to get a VIP view of the start and finish of the leg along with refreshments.

A Penzance breakfast club is being offered with prices stated as being "from £60". This will give ticket holders access to a "VIP setting" with "a relaxed hospitality experience in a prime location close to the Start Line to enjoy the team presentations and rider interviews".

They will also get a "locally produced, continental style breakfast" along with hot and cold drinks.

For the finish of the leg in Bodmin there are packages starting from £156 which give ticketholders access to a "tour enclosure".

This provides "a relaxed hospitality experience in a prime location close to the Finish Line and Podium (big screens allow you to follow all the race action live)". There will be sheltered viewing and unreserved seating available.

The package also provides a buffet lunch provided by the Tour caterers along with hot and cold drinks. There will also be an open bar serving beers and wine.

However, while some might be concerned that VIPs might get the best viewing spots the Tour of Britain organisers said there would be plenty of prime viewing points for those unable to afford the hospitality packages.

Nick Bull, PR and digital manager for the Tour of Britain, said that the hospitality areas form a very small part of the space available for spectators, he commented:

"Any fan who wishes to stand adjacent to the start line in Penzance and finish line in Bodmin will be able to do so, completely free of charge.

"As you can imagine, we get a lot of spectators arrive relatively early to secure the best positions available, something that's the case at the Tour de France and the other big races around the world, and we certainly do not wish to dampen their enthusiasm and passion.

"As a young cycling fan who attended several stages of the race prior to joining the company, I know what it means to get a good spot on the barriers. We pride ourselves on being a free-to-attend event and therefore the hospitality areas at our stage starts/finishes are the only such enclosures along the route."

Nick also gave an update on the planning for the event which is now just a few months away.

He said:

"Naturally, given this is a free-to-attend event, we've been working with Cornwall Council and all the stakeholders for nearly a year now to ensure that our planning and spectator protocols are in line with any guidelines that are in place from government. Friday marks 100 days to go until the race's Grand Départ so we're not too far away from announcing the world-famous teams and riders who'll be competing in the event.

"We understand there was a lot of excitement locally in relation to our announcement that Saint Piran, Cornwall's first professional cycling team, will be racing the Tour. We have little doubt that they'll put on a show throughout the eight days that comprise their debut Tour, but we're particularly interested in seeing them tackle the Cornish stage in front of a home crowd."

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