WATCH: Video captures Tour of Britain's visit to the Scottish Borders
Last updated 4th Sep 2024
It's hoped this week's visit of the Tour of Britain will encourage more cyclists to try the new Coast to Coast route which runs through the Scottish Borders.
Liz Dyet, manager of the Cross Keys Hotel in Kelso, says she's already noticed an uptake in bike tourism since the event last visited in 2019.
She told Greatest Hits Radio: "It's great. I think it's the gradients - we're not just a flat area, there are so many different challenges whichever way you come.
"The roads are amazing, and so are the views."
Kelso is one of the stops on the 250-mile Kirkpatrick C2C route - the UK's newest coast to coast cycle route.
WATCH: Click on the link below to view some of our highlights from the Tour of Britain's visit to the Scottish Borders...
Peebles cyclist Callum Thornley made home advantage count as the country's biggest professional cycling race returned to the Scottish Borders.
The 21-year-old was awarded the King of the Mountains shirt after beating some of the world's best riders on testing climbs over Scott's View, Dingleton and Dunion Hills on the opening stage of this year's Tour of Britain.
The race, which started and finished in Kelso, followed a 113-mile route round the region, passing Coldstream, Greenlaw, Melrose, Denholm and Jedburgh along the way.
Thornley and fellow Borders rider Oscar Onley were back in action today as the Tour of Britain moves south of the border for Stage Two of this year's event.
Onley has finished third, while Thornley has secured the King of the Mountains jersey picked up in the Borders yesterday.
For more stories from the Scottish Borders and North Northumberland, bookmark our new home page - https://hellorayo.co.uk/greatest-hits/borders/news/