Crowds will cheer on nearly 100 of the world's top women cyclists when they pedal through Halstead for a prestigious race. 

After setting off from Braintree, riders including Marianne Vos and Olympic champion Laura Trott, will follow the Friends Life Women's Tour route up Halstead High Street and into Castle Hedingham.

Over 138 gruelling kilometres the cyclists will travel into Suffolk and then on through East Bergholt, Manningtree and Thorpe-le-Soken before finishing in Marine Parade in Clacton.

Jonathan Durling, spokesman for the Friends Life Women’s Tour, said the highlights of the stage will be in the Braintree district.

He said: “The first highlight from a historical perspective will be Halstead High Street, going up the hill.

“Castle Hedingham will be very scenic and I think it’s got a sort of north European feel to it.

“If it’s a windy day this whole stretch will be tough. It’s quite long and there are a few lumps and bumps which will make it a tough first half of the race."

Stage One takes place on Wednesday, June 17, with a 110-kilometre Bury St Edmunds to Aldeburgh route.

At 10am the next day Stage Two will set off from Braintree town centre with the start proper beginning in High Garrett.