Hadleigh and Freston and Holbrook, near Ipswich, selected for King of the Mountain and sprint challenges in Suffolk leg of Tour of Britain
Three locations in Suffolk have been identified for extra challenges during this year’s Tour of Britain – with extra points on offer for the winners
The King of the Mountain Challenge will take place in Freston and Holbrook, both near Ipswich, while racers will get to test their athleticism during the sprint section in Hadleigh.
The organisers said the locations will provide ideal views for spectators to watch the events.
Holbrook Hill and Freston Hill were selected as the ‘mountains’ for the challenge.
The points earned in each challenge – which will appear in other legs of the competition – will go towards deciding the ultimate winner for each category.
Previous King of the Mountains jersey winners include 2010 Tour de France champion, Andy Schleck, in 2006, and Grand Tour stage winner, Thomas De Gendt, from 2009.
Point allocation in the challenge depends on the difficulty of the ascent.
Category one peaks, which represent the toughest climbs, award 10 points, descending to one point for the person in 10th place.
In contrast, Suffolk’s climb is considered category three – with between one and four points up for grabs.
The prizes for sprint winners are still being decided, the organisers said.
The Suffolk leg of the Tour of Britain begins and ends in Felixstowe.
Other towns it will visit include Ipswich, Saxmundham, Leiston, Stowmarket and Framlingham.
The cyclists will head to the seaside town on Thursday, September 7.