Eight WorldTour teams have been confirmed for the 2014 Tour of Britain.
Belkin Pro Cycling, BMC Racing, Garmin-Sharp, Movistar, Omega Pharma-QuickStep, Giant-Shimano, Team Sky and Tinkoff-Saxo have been confirmed for the eight-stage race on September 7-14. Sir Bradley Wiggins is expected to ride for Team Sky in a bid to defend the title he won in 2013.
Meanwhile, five second-tier UCI ProContinental teams – Bardiani-CSF, IAM Cycling, MTN Qhubeka, NetApp-Endura and Novo Nordisk – will also contest the race, which will start in Liverpool and finish in Liverpool.
They will be joined by Great Britain’s five UCI Continental-registered squads, including Tour Series champions Rapha Condor JLT and NFTO Pro Cycling, who won the RideLondon-Surrey Classic with Adam Blythe on Sunday.
Madison-Genesis, Giordana Racing and Team Raleigh complete the domestic Continental contingent, while the Irish AN Post-Chain Reaction squad will also race, along with a Great Britain team made up of Academy riders.
“Every year we get a very positive response from teams wishing to ride the Friends Life Tour of Britain and this year that has been even more so the case,” said race director Mick Bennett.
“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.”
All eight stages of the 2014 Tour of Britain will have live coverage and highlights on ITV and British Eurosport.
