PEOPLE in Waveney are being urged not to miss out on a golden opportunity this weekend as the Tour of Britain – featuring some of the biggest names in cycling – rolls through north Suffolk.

Tour de France winner and Olympic gold medallist Bradley Wiggins and world road race champion Mark Cavendish will be among the riders taking part in the race, which starts in Ipswich on Sunday.

The route will take the cyclists north, passing through Reydon, Wrentham, Kessingland, Lowestoft and surrounding villages on their way towards Great Yarmouth before finishing at the Norfolk Showground at Costessey.

Wiggins and Cavendish, of Team Sky, will be up against a number of other top professional riders including American sprinter Tyler Farrar and former Olympic road race champion Samuel Sanchez, and an Orica-Greenedge team that includes two members of the Australian team pursuit team from London 2012.

The Adnams-supported first stage of the country's biggest road race will see the peloton of nearly 100 riders leaving the Waterfront in Ipswich at 10am before heading on to Kesgrave, Woodbridge, Snape, Aldeburgh, Thorpeness and Leiston.

Westleton will have the honour of hosting the second of three 'King of the Mountains' sections before Reydon welcomes the leading riders at about 11.43am.

According to race organisers' estimates, the riders should arrive at Wrentham at about 11.51am, before heading on to Henstead (11.56am), through Kessingland (12.03pm) and on to Lowestoft.

The riders will ride along the A12 for the journey to Lowestoft and are due to arrive in the town just after noon.

The race will then continue via Oulton, Flixton, Lound and Browston and on to Great Yarmouth.

Urging local people to turn out in force, Waveney District Council leader Colin Law said: 'Our officers and those at Suffolk Coastal have been working closely with our friends at the Tour of Britain to ensure we get another memorable day for local people in this amazing sporting summer.

'We have contributed �15,000 to the staging of the race and I think that is money well spent when you consider the boost that such an international sporting event can bring to the local economy. We're all very excited about Sunday and can't wait for it to arrive.'

?Drivers using major roads in Suffolk and Norfolk on Sunday are being advised to plan ahead and allow extra time where necessary as some roads near the race route could be busy.

Steve Bush, of the Highways Agency, said: 'Some roads in the area are likely to be busier than usual, particularly those around the A12 near Ipswich and Lowestoft, and the A47 near Norwich.'

For more information, visit the Highways Agency's website or call its information line on 0300 123 5000 for up to date details of any delays.

?Riders saddle up for good causes – pages 32 and 57

?Win �300 to spend on a bike or cycling gear – page 60