Tour of Britain organiser SweetSpot has announced the biggest peloton yet for the 2013 Tour of Britain, which will be the tenth edition of the race since its revival in 2004. The eight-day race, which starts in the Scottish border town of Peebles on Sunday 15th September, retains the 2.1 ranking that it has held since 2005, and will include five WorldTour ProTeams out of the total of 19 invited.
“This year’s Tour of Britain will have a world-class line-up bringing a number of international stars to race on British roads, while at the same time allowing our top domestic teams and a Great Britain squad to race on the biggest stage possible for them,” said race director Mick Bennett.
British team Sky Procycling will include 2012 Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins, who has targeted the race ahead of the World championships. This will likely mean that - should he be part of the line up - defending champion Jonathan Tiernan-Locke will likely play a supporting role.
Garmin-Sharp, Movistar, Omega Pharma-Quick Step and Cannondale will be the other four ProTeams, with the first three likely to field their British stars in David Millar, 2011 World champion and reigning British champion Mark Cavendish, and British time trial champion and Giro d’Italia stage winner Alex Dowsett respectively.
The ProContinental teams will include the MTN-Qhubeka outfit of Milano-Sanremo winner Gerald Ciolek, the Bardiani-CSF team of Sacha Modolo, who finished second in the recent Prudential RideLondon Classic, as well as the NetApp-Endura squad that features several British riders. These teams will come up against the cream of the British domestic peloton, as well as a national team from Great Britain.
“The make-up of teams will provide another exciting and unpredictable Tour from a racing perspective, whether you are watching at the roadside or at home on the live television coverage,” said Bennett.
The race will finish in central London once again, on Sunday 22nd September, with live coverage in the UK on ITV4 and British Eurosport.
UCI ProTeams
Cannondale Pro Cycling (Ita)
Garmin - Sharp (USA)
Movistar (Spa)
Omega Pharma - Quick Step (Bel)
Sky Procycling (GBr)
UCI Pro Continental Teams
Bardiani Valvole - CSF Inox (Ita)
IAM Cycling (Swi)
MTN Qhubeka p.b Samsung (RSA)
Sojasun (Fra)
Team NetApp Endura (Ger)
UnitedHealthcare Pro Cycling (USA)
UCI Continental Teams
AN Post Chain Reaction (Irl)
Madison Genesis (GBr)
Node4 Giordana Racing (GBr)
Rapha Condor JLT (GBr)
Team IG Sigma Sport (GBr)
Team Raleigh (GBr)
Team UK Youth (GBr)
National Teams
Great Britain (GBr)