Top Teams announced for Tour of Britain
Twenty teams will be racing for the yellow jersey across eight stages over eight days, including the number one ranked team in the world Movistar Team, and UK entrant Team Sky who claim Sir Bradley Wiggins will be in contention to defend his title for the race.
The 120 riders will be comprised of six of the world’s top ten teams, and ten who recently competed in the Tour de France. The British national team will be joined by the UK’s five ICI Continental squads, led by Pearl Izumi Tour Series Champions Rapha Condor JLT, and debutants NFTO Pro Cycling.
Race director Mick Bennett said: “Not only do we have a very strong line-up of teams, half of whom raced in the Tour de France, we are confident that they will be bringing their best possible squads, meaning fans can look forward to seeing the world’s top riders, some exciting racing and maybe a few surprises this September.”
Starting in Liverpool on Sunday September 7 the country’s top competitive bike race will arrive in West Berkshire September 12 for 28.4kms of the sixth stage of the competition. The race will enter Bagshot around 12.20 before entering Hungerford, cycling along the A338 before heading North towards Boxford and Leckhampstead before leaving the area towards Oxfordshire on its final sprint to Hemel Hempstead. The eight-day race will finish in central London on Sunday September 14.
The full team list is as follows:
UCI Pro Teams
• Belkin Pro Cycling (NED)
• BMC Racing Team (USA)
• Garmin Sharp (USA)
• Movistar Team (SPA)
• Omega Pharma Quick-Step (BEL)
• Team Giant Shimano (NED)
• Team Sky (GBR)
• Tinkoff Saxo (RUS)
UCI Pro Continental Teams
• Bardiani CSF (ITA)
• IAM Cycling (SWI)
• MTN Qhubeka (RSA)
• Team NetApp Endura (Ger)
• Team Novo Nordisk (USA)
UCI Continental Teams
• AN Post Chain Reacton (IRL)
• Madison Genesis (GBR)
• NFTO Pro Cycling (GBR)
• Giordana Racing Team (GBR)
• Rapha Condor JLT (GBR)
• Team Raleigh (GBR)
National Teams
• Great Britain (GBR)