THE world-famous race which starts and finishes on the seafront next Thursday will make the town “international”.

The Women’s Tour cycling event will be held in the town on Thursday, with businesses hoping for a boost with the route so close by.

It will start in Shoebury and finish in Westcliff. Riders will also travel through Rayleigh, Rochford, Great Wakering and other areas of south Essex.

The fourth stage of the race will start from East Beach in Shoebury.

It will then head north to Little Wakering before turning west onto Great Wakering and up to Rochford, and through Great Stambridge, Canewdon, Ashingdon and onto Battlesbridge before they then complete a circuit of the Maldon district.

The race route will head south through Rawreth and onto Rayleigh, onwards to Leigh, down through Chalkwell and finally they will cross the line on Western Esplanade in Westcliff.

Paul Thompson, owner of Pebbles One Cafe on Southend seafront, said: “Hopefully it will bring lots of people out along the route. There will be TV cameras and it’s free publicity for the town and our businesses.

Echo: Champion - Jolien D\'hoore wins in Clacton back in 2015. Picture: Larry Hickmott

“I think lots of people will be out to watch it and it will be good for business and the town in the long run with the route and the publicity.

“It will make Southend and our businesses go global with all the TV cameras and coverage.”

The fifth stage will be held in Colchester and Clacton the day after.

The event will start in Oxfordshire on October 4 where racers will visit Walsall and Atherstone before arriving in Southend.

Peter Grubb, owner of Uncle Tom’s Cabin in Shoebury said the route brings much needed attention to the town and seafront.

He said: “It’s part of showing off Shoebury and it will be excellent to show off what we have to offer.

“It is more recognition about for our part of the seafront and it make use internationally famous.

It’s been a long time coming for us to get attention