Strongest field to date lined up, Martin likely to ride
Tour de France runner-up Nairo Quintana and the rider regarded by many in recent years as the fastest sprinter in cycling, Mark Cavendish, are amongst a strong field set to line out in this year’s Tour of Britain.
The race begins in eight days’ time in Peebles and will feature some of the world’s strongest teams plus several household names.
In addition to Cavendish, who has dominated bunch sprints in recent seasons and who is determined to get back his reputation as the fastest galloper in the sport after a quieter than usual Tour de France, another multiple Grand Tour stage winner will also take part. Alessandro Petacchi recently moved to the Omega Pharma Quick Step team and will try to ensure that team-mate Cavendish is unbeatable on the flatter days.
Quintana will take part as part of the Movistar team. He had a hugely impressive debut in the Tour de France when he finished second overall to Chris Froome (Sky), took the King of the Mountains and best young rider awards and also won a stage.
It was the best debut in the race for many years and marks the 23 year old Colombian out as a major talent.
The team will also include former Italian national champion Giovanni Visconti, the winner of two stages of the Giro d’Italia this year, plus the British time trial champion Alex Dowsett.
Garmin-Sharp’s Dan Martin is listed as a provisional starter, although he told VeloNation yesterday that he is still recovering from the concussion he suffered at the Vuelta a España, and that his participation would be confirmed at a later point.
He is hoping to ride the race in order to be sharp for the world road race championships. Last year’s runner-up Nathan Haas will don the team’s colours for the race.
In addition to those, Milan Sanremo winner Gerald Ciolek (MTN Qhubeka) will compete, as will Team Sky’s aforementioned team leader Bradley Wiggins, Giro d’Italia King of the Mountains winner Stefano Pirazzi and his stage-winning Bardiani Valvole CSF Inox team-mate Enrico Battaglin.
Race director Mick Bennett said he is very pleased with the field that has been amassed. “Every year the rider list for The Tour of Britain has grown more and more impressive, with this year being no exception to that,” he stated.
“We have world-class sprinters like Mark Cavendish and Gerald Ciolek, the very best time trialists in Sir Bradley Wiggins and Alex Dowsett, and exceptional climbing talents in Nairo Quintana and Dan Martin, plus many others who I could mention.
“I, like all cycling fans in Britain, look forward to seeing how this year’s race develops over the eight stages and who can succeed Jonathan Tiernan Locke in the IG Gold Jersey.”
The race starts next Sunday and lasts eight days.
It will include stages in the Lake District and Snowdonia, and the GC will be shaped by the first ever summit finish of the event, taking place on Dartmoor on stage six.