With just under six weeks until the Aviva Tour of Britain rolls its way into the Borders, organisers have unveiled the team line-up.
The Tour will feature the biggest line-up of UCI WorldTeams to race in the UK this year, as nine of the world’s best teams head to the region in September.
Headlining the 20-team list are Team Cannondale Garmin, who won the 2014 Tour of Britain with Dylan Van Baarle, and the Etixx Quick-Step team of Mark Cavendish and World Champion Michal Kwiatkowski, while Top level British interests are represented by Team Sky, still celebrating following Chris Froome’s Tour de France win last weekend.
The other six UCI WorldTeams that will race in the 2.HC ranked Tour are BMC Racing, IAM Cycling, Lotto Soudal, Movistar Team, Team Lotto NL Jumbo and Tinkoff – Saxo.
Those nine, plus MTN Qhubeka, have been in action in the Tour de France, winning 13 of the 21 stages, and will line-up with six rider squads in Beaumaris on Anglesey for Stage One on Sunday, September 6.
Fans of the domestic racing scene will be able to get behind all six of the country’s UCI Continental teams, including 2015 Pearl Izumi Tour Series Champions Madison Genesis and last year’s Elite Road Series winning squad Team Raleigh GAC, and also cheer on a Great Britain Cycling Team racing on home roads.
The Tour arrives in the Borders on Tuesday, September 8.
Details of all competing teams plus racing itinerary can be found at www.thesouthernreporter.co.uk