Dartmouth is on the road to worldwide exposure and the economic boost that goes with it as the town will be hosting the Westcountry stage of the 2012 Tour of Britain cycle race.

Thousands of people along with the world's cycling media are expected to flood into the town this September as the Devon leg of the huge race ends in Dartmouth.

Now the town is due to start looking at how it can cash in on the major publicity and financial coup.

Dartmouth county councillor Jonathan Hawkins revealed that last year the Devon leg ended in Exmouth and brought more than 32,000 people into the town.

'This is really good news for Dartmouth. It is a good boost for the economy in September towards the end of the season.

'It will give Dartmouth an excellent opportunity to sell itself nationally and internationally. The TV cameras from around the world will be here.

'I am delighted that Dartmouth has been chosen and look forward to welcoming the cyclists to Dartmouth.'

He said he now planned to set up a local committee to 'ensure that Dartmouth celebrates it suitably and that it is best for the whole Dartmouth community'. He added: 'We need to get everyone involved and build this event up. It's a really great opportunity for Dartmouth.'

Over the past three years, Britain's premier cycle race has brought an additional £14m into the Devon economy as well as showcasing the county to a global TV audience.

This year's Devon stage will start in Barnstaple and will cover around 106 miles of the county before finishing in Dartmouth.

The route will again take in Dartmoor, including Bideford, Hatherleigh and Tavistock, and also wind its way through other communities including Buckfastleigh, Kingsbridge, Torcross and Stoke Fleming.

Just one month after the London 2012 Olympic Games, the Tour will provide the opportunity for spectators to see Olympic medallists in action as 96 of the world's top cyclists line up for the eight- day race.

Cllr Stuart Hughes, the county council's highways spokesman, said: 'Last year's Tour of Britain was described as the best ever, but we'll be aiming to go one better in September.

'With the event so close to the Olympic Games there's sure to be an even bigger buzz about this year's race and hopefully we'll get to see some Olympic medallists racing through the county.

'It was fantastic to have some home-grown success last year with Jon Tiernan Locke's heroics, and I'm sure he'll do Devon proud again.'

According to an independent report, commissioned by the Tour, an additional £3.1m was spent in the county on the day of last year's Devon stage, with more than 125,000 spectators lining the route from Exeter to Exmouth, via Dartmoor.

Stage seven of the race – the Dartmouth stage – will be going ahead on Saturday, September 15.

The stages of the 2012 Tour of Britain are:

Stage 1: Ipswich to Norwich.

Stage 2: East Midlands – Knowsley, Merseyside.

Stage 3: Jedburgh – Dumfries.

Stage 4: Carlisle – Blackpool.

Stage 5: Stoke-on-Trent.

Stage 6: Welshpool – Caerphilly.

Stage 7: Barnstaple – Dartmouth.

Stage 8: Reigate - Guildford.