The Tour of Britain today announced that Barloworld are the latest to sign up to participate in the 2008 race. The British registered team are the latest major international squad to be announced following on from the recent announcement that High Road would participate in the 8-day September event.

The Barloworld line up for the race is a mouth watering combination of youth and experience who will have the ability to compete for both stage wins and general classification.

Leading the provisional squad is Robbie Hunter, a fast finisher who is sure to want to perform well after leaving the race prematurely in 2007 due to a crash. With a Tour de France stage win on his CV, Hunter is sure to be a big draw for British cycling fans.

They will also be excited to see the participation of two Olympic challengers in the form of Welshman Geraint Thomas and Stephen Cummings, both of whom could play a part in the British quartet for the Team Pursuit in Beijing later this summer. Both riders have recently completed the 3 week Giro d’Italia, proving their stage race
credentials along the way.

Also in the team is Australian Baden Cooke, who has transferred to Barloworld this year. His presence in the race will make him a marked man given his ability to win on all types of terrain.

Coming hot on the heels of the Beijing Olympic games, the British riders will have to switch quickly back from national loyalties to those of their employers as Thomas and Cummings return to their day jobs of ensuring riders like Cooke and Hunter are delivered to the finish line in the best possible position to win, bringing them into
direct competition with GB team mates Wiggins and Cavendish, who will fulfil similar roles for Team High Road on the race.

To date, the teams confirmed to participate in the race are: