FUTURE cycling stars will visit Devon schools next month in the run up to the return of The Tour of Britain to the county.  

The tour on Thursday, September 15 hopes to promote the health, fitness and sustainable travel benefits of cycling.

Devon County Council is hosting stage five of the Tour, covering 110 miles (180km) of the county, starting in Exeter and finishing in Exmouth.

Team Qoroz, the U23 cycling team run by the South West Bike Academy, will be attend school assemblies in September to encourage pupils to take up cycling or cycle more often.

The visits have been organised by the county council ahead of the Devon stage of the tour.

The team will be at: Monday, September 12: Bow Primary, 1.30pm-2.30pm - plus pupils from North Tawton, South Tawton, and Spreyton. September 13: Moretonhampstead Primary; 9.15am-10.15am - also open to pupils from Chagford, Dunsford, and Christow; 11am-12noon Princetown Primary School.

Team Qoroz, currently has seven riders aged between 16 and 23 who all hail from the region. The riders are Ben Stockdale, Luke Dunbar, Matt Ullmer, Tom Stockdale, Scott Law, Mikey Thelwell and Jack Reed.

The Devon stage of The Tour of Britain on Thursday 15 September will take in three Skoda King of the Mountains climbs on Dartmoor, at Haytor, Coffin Stone, and Huccaby Tor. The race will also pass through Pathfinder Village, Tedburn St Mary, Moretonhampstead, Bovey Tracey, Dartmeet, Postbridge, Bow, Broadclyst and West Hill, and will feature three intermediate Yodel Sprints at Cheriton Bishop, Crediton and Rockbeare.

Among the 16 world class teams competing in the tour over eight days are Sky Professional Cycling Team, Team HTC - Highroad, Garmin Cervelo, Leopard Trek, Endura Racing and Rapha Condor Sharp. For Tour of Britain details visit http://www.southwesttourofbritain.co.uk">www.southwesttourofbritain.co.uk