Sports Listings: Plan Ahead

As the Tour de France enters its final stages, the summer and autumn continue to offer a feast of top professional cycling for the spectator and the holidaymaker.

The Kellogg's Tour of Britain, from 10 to 14 August, is first on the menu. Britain's largest stage race, the Tour this year has been put back an extra week to allow riders competing in the Tour de France sufficient time to recover and enter. Last year's winner, the Australian, Phil Anderson, his Motorola team- mate, Sean Yates, of Britain, and the Irishman, Stephen Roche, are already among the entries.

The 550-mile tour, over five stages, starts with a circuit of Dundee. On Tuesday, the second day, the 105 professionals set out from Edinburgh through the Kielder Forest to Gateshead. The third stage starts in Middlesbrough and includes tough climbs like the Rosedale Chimney as the riders cross the north Yorkshire moors to Hull. The fourth stage is a fast dash from Lincoln to Coventry. On Friday, the final stage takes the Tour from Nottingham to a circuit of Leeds, finishing in the Headrow.

The Wincanton Classic, on Sunday 16 August, is the only British leg of the 13- race World Cup series. Restricted to the world's top 200 professionals, the race starts and finishes in Leeds.

Leaving Leeds at 9am, the route heads to Harewood and Otley, then to Ilkley, where the Cow and Calf climb affords good viewing. Further climbs at Flappit, near Keighley and Oxenhope Moor on the way to Hebden Bridge are also vantage points. After Holmfirth, the field tackles the highest main road climb in England at Holme Moss before returning to Leeds over Emley Moor for a circuit of the city.

A week in Spain follows at the end of August for the World track and road race championships. Tickets for the four-day track event at the Luis Puig Velodrome in Valencia start at 800Ptas ( pounds 4.50). Seats in the uncovered stands for the road race on September 6, which takes the riders on a 12-lap 261km circuit of mountains above Benidorm, cost 3,000Ptas ( pounds 17); covered seats are 5,000Ptas ( pounds 28.50). Combined tickets for both events are available.

The Nissan International Classic, from 23 to 27 September, provides excellent preparation for the remaining three World Cup races. The 525-mile route starts and finishes in Dublin, heads north to Dundalk, with stage finishes in Galway, Limerick and Cork.

Eurolinks Ltd, of the Wirral, specialises in cycling holidays and can provide a package for the Nissan Tour. The six-night tour, which includes bed and breakfast and flight from Liverpool, costs pounds 289 per person.

Kellogg's Tour of Britain, starts Dundee, finishes Leeds, 10-14 August. Wincanton Classic, Leeds, 16 August. Nissan Classic, starts and finishes Dublin, 23-27 September.

World track championships, Valencia, Spain, 30 August to 2 September. Women's World team time-trial championship, 5 September and World road race championship, Benidorm, 6 September. Advance tickets: Comite Organzidor, Calle Alciro 2A - Pta 17, 46989 Terramelar (Paterna), Valencia, Spain. (Tel: 010 346 137 1460; fax: 010 346 13 1548).

Spanish National Tourist Office, 57 St James's Street, London SW1 (Tel: 071-499 0901). Tourist Office, Martinez Alejos Sn, Benidorm, Spain. (Tel: 010 346 585 3224/585 1311). Tourist Office, Calle De La Paz 46, Valencia, Spain. (Tel: 010 346 352 2897).

Eurolinks Ltd, 27 The Ridgeway, Meols, Wirral, Merseyside L47 9RY (Tel: 051-632 3625).

Details of forthcoming events with information on ticket availability and venues should be sent to The Sports Desk, The Independent, 40 City Road, London EC1Y 2DB or faxed to 071-956 1894.