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A FERRY company which operates routes across The Solent is to welcome hundreds of professional cyclists onto its services for a UK cycling race.

On Sunday, September 11, Wightlink will be carrying teams of professional riders as well as many amateur cyclists keen to watch their heroes during the final stage of the Tour of Britain 2022.

Stage eight will start at 11am on Ryde Esplanade and criss-cross the Island before finishing at The Needles at about 4pm.

Wightlink will also carry the riders’ support vehicles and race infrastructure.

Picture by SWpix.com - 10/09/2021 - Cycling - AJ Bell Tour of Britain Stage 6 - Carlisle to Gateshead, England - Jumbo Visma's Wout van Aert (r) outsprints Deceuninck Quick-Step's Julian Alaphilippe (l) & INEOS Grenadiers' Ethan Hayter (c) for the win at Tour 6 of the Tour of Britain. - Best of 2021

Wightlink chief executive, Keith Greenfield, said: ‘We expect plenty of cycling fans to travel with us that weekend and they should book their tickets in advance as we are bound to be busy.’

Wightlink will be running extra FastCat foot passenger services between Portsmouth Harbour and Ryde Pier Head on September 11.

The Tour of Britain starts in Aberdeen next Sunday. It will be shown live on ITV4 with an hour-long highlights show every evening.

Wightlink to welcome hundreds of professional riders for final stage of Tour of Britain