SOME of Britain’s elite cyclists, including Olympic gold medallist Ed Clancy, will be in action on the North-East’s roads this weekend.

The annual race around the shores of the Derwent Reservoir, which straddles the border of Northumberland and County Durham, takes place on Saturday and Sunday.

The ride is the first race of British Cycling’s Elite Road Series and this year, for the first time, the weekend includes a women’s elite cycling race.

The 54-mile women’s race, the Alexandra Tour of the Reservoir, takes place on Saturday (April 12), with riders leaving Blanchland at 9am ahead of the official start at Carrick’s Corner.

The men’s event - the ninth annual Northumbrian Water Tour of the Reservoir road race - takes place over two days.

Stage one takes place on Saturday with a 75-mile course starting in Blanchland at 1.30pm. Competitors will complete five gruelling circuits of a course through the hills and twisting roads around Edmundbyers, hoping to qualify for Sunday’s second stage.

The second day sees qualifiers battle it out over eight laps of the reservoir, setting off at 10.20am from Blanchland, covering the 104-mile course at speeds of up to 60mph before finishing near the dam wall.

Event organiser Mike Hodgson, of the Tyne Valley Cycle club, said: "We’re very pleased to have our first ever women’s event at Derwent Reservoir and to be supporting one of the fastest growing sports for female cyclists.

"The event is billed locally as a mini Tour de France and always attracts the best cyclists in Britain. The new race route offers some fantastic vantage points and it’s great fun to watch”.

Winners will be presented with a sash by Jennie Collingwood, of Northumbrian Water.

She said: "It’s a real coup to have secured yet another Elite Calendar race around the spectacular backdrop of Derwent Reservoir.

“The event is a huge boost for the area and North East tourism as it usually brings in around £100,000 of revenue for the region.

"It is extra special this year as the weekend includes the first ever top elite race for women appropriately named in honour of Princess Alexandra who officially opened the reservoir in 1967”.

Drivers are warned to expect delays due to rolling road closures in the area between 8.30am and 5pm on Saturday and from 10am to 4pm on Sunday, including a short stretch of the A68.