2012 Tour de France winner Sir Bradley Wiggins will lead Sky Pro Cycling in the tenth anniversary Tour of Britain, which gets underway on Sunday 15 September.
Wiggins will be joined by fellow British riders Josh Edmondson and Ian Stannard plus Australian Mathew Hayman, Austrian Bernhard Eisel and Spaniard David Lopez in the six rider line-up.
"We are very pleased to welcome Sir Bradley Wiggins back to The Tour of Britain alongside what looks to be a very strong Sky line-up,” said Race Director Mick Bennett.
"Both Ian Stannard and Josh Edmondson have performed strongly in the race before, while I, like many others, look forward to seeing Sir Bradley in action in the 10-mile Knowsley individual time trial.”
Wiggins, who has ridden The Tour of Britain on four previous occasions (2004, 2009, 2010 and 2012), will be among the favourites for the Stage Three Individual Time Trial at Knowsley as he continues preparations for his assault on the World Time Trial Championships in Italy days after The Tour finishes.
Sky Pro Cycling provisional line-up
Sir Bradley Wiggins (GBR); Josh Edmondson (GBR); Bernhard Eisel (AUT); Mathew Hayman (AUS); David Lopez (ESP); Ian Stannard (GBR)
Reserves –Chris Sutton (AUS); Jonathan Tiernan Locke (GBR); Geraint Thomas (GBR)
The full provisional rider list for the 2013 Tour of Britain will be unveiled tomorrow (Friday 6th September) with the final start list confirmed on Saturday 14th September.
The Tour of Britain gets underway in Peebles in the Scottish Borders on Sunday 15th September, finishing in the centre of London eight days later on Sunday 22nd September, with live coverage in the UK on ITV4 and British Eurosport.
Amateur cyclists wishing to be a part of the Grand Depart weekend can join in The Tour Ride Scotland on Saturday 14th September, taking on 50 and 100-mile Rides between Peebles and Drumlanrig Castle. To find out more and to register, please visit www.thetour.co.uk/tourride