The 11 September race will start in Rochdale town centre at 10.30am with the Grade 1 listed Town Hall providing an impressive backdrop for the start of the eight-day challenge.
The world-class cyclists will then make their way up Drake Street. From there they’ll turn onto Manchester Road, speed along St Mary’s Gate and turn left up Spotland Road.
The true start of the race is at the junction of Ings Lane and Edenfield Road, where the strongest riders will break away and start their challenge for the winners’ Yellow Jersey.
They’ll race towards Norden and it’s there that the first Sprint of the 2010 race will take place with cyclists competing to wear the coveted red, white and blue Sprint Jersey.
After the Sprint the cyclists will continue along Edenfield Road heading to Rawtenstall and Waterfoot before skirting Burnley and racing through Padiham on the way north to Blackpool, where the 131km first stage of the race finishes on the seafront.