IN the wake of the Tour de Yorkshire, a Cycling Festival featuring the National Road Race Championships is set to return to the region.

Stockton will host its annual three-day festival from July 14 which will include a new addition of the Stockton Extreme Bike Battle as six stunt riders compete for the Extreme Bike Battle crown.

Stockton-on-Tees Borough Council’s cabinet member for arts, leisure and culture, said: “Last year’s festival was a national sporting spectacle that will live long in the memory and I know there are a great many people eagerly awaiting the return of the Stockton Cycling Festival for 2017.

“The new elements of the festival will add to the already stellar programme of competitions and activities on offer for cycling fans of all ages.”