Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish have been named in the provisional start list for the 2014 Friends Life Tour of Britain as a number of world-class cyclists prepare to race from 7-14 September.
Wiggins will start his defence of his title on Sunday in Liverpool as one of three British riders in Team Sky’s line-up, along with Ben Swift and Ian Stannard.
Cavendish leads Omega Pharma Quick-Step’s squad, the Manxman and 2011 world champion hoping to add to his record ten stage wins in the race.
Commonwealth Games time trial champion and Giro d’Italia stage winner Alex Dowsett is named in Movistar’s six-man team.
The Great Britain Cycling Team squad will announced in due course.
NFTO Pro Cycling, Rapha Condor JLT, Madison Genesis, Team Raleigh and Giordana Racing Team all predominantly feature British riders.
Elsewhere, Commonwealth Games road race bronze medallist Scott Thwaites rides for Team NetApp Endura, Steve Cummings for BMC Racing and Owain Doull for An Post Chain Reaction.
Speaking about racing the eleventh edition of the race, Sir Bradley Wiggins said: "The Tour of Britain is a special race for me so to be returning as defending champion is a real honour.
"It's always been a tough race but the support we receive from the fans is incredible, and it's our home tour so I've always enjoyed racing it.
"From the start of the year it's always been a goal of mine to race to the Tour of Britain. The race is growing in stature year on year and it's our chance to go there with a strong team and race in front of home fans to thank them for their support over the season.
"Cycling's now more popular than ever before in the UK with over a million more people are getting out on their bikes. This is great for the sport we love and Sky and British Cycling have been at the heart of this transformation, so having a Sky Ride start on the same day as stage one in Liverpool is brilliant.
"Hopefully it will inspire people to go on Sky Ride in the morning and then cheer us on in the afternoon.”
The provisional start list is subject to change.
The 2014 Tour of Britain starts on Sunday in Liverpool city centre and finishes in London a week later.
