The Scottish route weaves for 160km (99 miles) through a number of towns and villages and takes in a challenging section of the Lammermuir Hills.
The race will go through Lincolnshire, East Yorkshire and North Yorkshire before ending in Scotland.
The men's cycling race starts in Lincolnshire, with further stages in Yorkshire and Scotland.
Hundreds of volunteers survey Scotland's watercourses and report any issues of concern quickly.
The future of dozens of sites in the Borders will be decided after consultants advised closing them.
Children in the Borders check on a tributary of the River Tweed after a summer of water scarcity.
Sean Stratford and Leigh Hurley complained about a council installing only gender neutral toilets at a new primary school.
Scottish Borders Council promises "robust" talks over a report recommending dozens of sites close.
A case was brought against Scottish Borders Council which had installed only gender neutral toilets in a replacement school.
