The Tour of Britain organiser has officially confirmed that both Tour de France winner and Olympic time trial champion Bradley Wiggins, and World champion Mark Cavendish will both be on the race’s start line on September 9th, as part of Team Sky. The eight-day race, which has yet to be won by a British rider since its revival in 2004, could well be the last time the two riders are part of the same team, with Cavendish rumoured to be leaving Team Sky at the end of the year.
“To have the reigning Tour de France and Olympic time trial champion, and the current World champion competing in The Tour of Britain is a dream for us,” said Race Director Mick Bennett. “That both riders are British and such great champions means that there is now a unprecedented interest in the event.”
Both riders have made regular appearances at their national Tour in recent years, although Wiggins missed last years edition as he rode to third place in the Vuelta a España. Cavendish abandoned last year’s Vuelta with illness, and rode the Tour of Britain instead - as part of the preparation for his successful bid to take the rainbow jersey - and won the first and last stages.
Wiggins has indicated that, rather than riding for himself in the race, he will support the efforts of his teammates to thank them for what has been a stellar season.
“We are delighted that The Tour of Britain will be the first chance for many British fans to see Bradley Wiggins since his Tour de France and Olympic successes,” said Bennet. “We are also very pleased that Mark Cavendish to the race again so he can ‘show-off’ the rainbow stripes in front of home fans. What Mark did for the race last year following the cancellation of Stage Two meant a great deal to us, so he will always be welcome as a fantastic ambassador for The Tour.”
In addition to the two stars, former national champion Jeremy Hunt will take Team Sky’s British contingent to three out of six on the race. Also present will be former German champion Christian Knees, Swede Thomas Löfkvist, and Cavendish’s “minder” Bernhard Eisel.
Team Sky for the Tour of Britain
Mark Cavendish, Bernhard Eisel, Jeremy Hunt, Christian Knees, Thomas Löfkvist and Bradley Wiggins
Reserves
Salvatore Puccio and Luke Rowe