The Tour de France 2027 route has been revealed, with riders set to pass through St Helens, Knowsley and Liverpool.

Cycle shop manager Matthew Porter said he hoped the race would create a "buzz" in the area and inspire more people to take up cycling.

Porter, from Evans Cycles in St Helens, said young people seeing some of the world's best riders competing on roads close to home could encourage them to try different types of cycling.

"A lot of people actually have the wrong type of bike for what they use it for. Our youth mainly ride mountain bikes, but seeing top athletes riding road bikes may cause them to try something different," he said.

Stage two of the men's race will start in Keswick in the Lake District on 3 July before following a 223km (139 mile) route through St Helens and Knowsley and finishing in Liverpool city centre.

Porter said: "I think it's quite a beautiful route.

"The country roads they will be going down are really nice and, as they head towards Knowsley, there could be a lot of spectators lining the route."

The route will go through Windle, Gillar's Green and Eccleston in St Helens before passing through Prescot, Huyton and past Bowring Park.

In Liverpool the route will head towards Broadgreen and continue up Rocky Lane and through Childwall and along Queens Drive and Smithdown Road before passing through Sefton Park, along Prince Road and down Upper Parliament Street to The Strand where for the stage finish in front of the Three Graces.

Mayor of the Liverpool City Region Steve Rotheram said the event would be "a special moment for everyone who lives here".

"The Tour de France is one of the greatest sporting spectacles on the planet," he said.

"For three weeks, millions of people around the world will be glued to the action, watching the best cyclists on earth push themselves to the absolute limit.

"And next summer, that spectacle is coming right to our doorstep.

"I hope seeing these incredible athletes in action inspires a new generation to get on their bikes, give cycling a go and discover what they can achieve. The race might only be here for a day, but the impact it can have on our region could last for years."

Porter said he hoped people would turn out for the event and be inspired to get onto two wheels.

"It's good for the area to have such big event happening so close," he said.