One of  Britain’s most promising young cyclists helped to launch the build-up to the Tour of Britain spectacular, a stage of which will take place in Cheshire East.

Monica Dew, from Poynton, a year 13 student at Poynton High School, helped launch Stage 3 of the Tour of Britain at Tatton Park with the new leader of Cheshire East Council, Rachel Bailey, and former cycling professional David Millar.

A track and road racing cyclist, Monica, 18, hopes to become a professional rider soon and has signed up to British Cycling’s scholarship programme to develop her talent and potential.

The launch event brought together sponsors and potential sponsors who stand to benefit from the enormous broadcasting and spectator interest the event will generate.

The Stage 3 leg of the tour will take place in the borough on September 6, when competitors will race from Congleton to Tatton Park, Knutsford, taking in several local towns and villages plus the steep climb up the A537 Cat and Fiddle road climb.

Guests at the launch were told of the far wider opportunities arising from the spectacle, which is predicted to attract 8.2 million television viewers with a potential worldwide audience of 116.5 million.

Coverage will be on BBC Radio 5 Live, ITV4 and Eurosport, while local BBC and commercial radio stations are likely to cover the event.

Tour of Britain organisers say that past events have seen up to 154,000 spectators per stage.

Corn Bailey said: “Not only will this be a spectacular event to watch it will also showcase the Borough of Cheshire East to a huge worldwide audience.

“I urge our local businesses to get behind this, support it and help to make the whole Borough proud to be hosting the Tour of Britain.”

The Tour of Britain is billed as the biggest free-to-attend sporting attraction with 20 teams of riders from 10 countries.