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Tour of Britain: Mark Cavendish, Ben Swift and other riders to watch

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The Aviva Tour of Britain has once again attracted some of the world’s best cyclists.

From sprinters to all-rounders and climbers to rising stars, there are multiple big names for fans to keep an eye out for.

Here we pick out the overall contenders, sprinters and ones to watch…

THE CONTENDERS

Zdenek Stybar (Etixx – Quick-Step)

Zdenek Stybar wins stage six of the 2015 Tour de France
Image: Zdenek Stybar won a stage of this year's Tour de France

The 29-year-old Czech is one of the most powerful riders in cycling and a good all-rounder, so he will be a strong contender for overall victory. He won the hilly one-day classic Strade Bianche in March, which proved he has what it takes to get over the short and sharp climbs common at the Tour of Britain. The key to his chances will be limiting his losses on stage five's summit finish on Hartside.

Ben Swift (Team Sky)

Ben Swift of Great Britain and Team SKY recovers at the end of the twentieth stage of the 2014 Giro d'Italia, a 167km high
Image: Ben Swift is well suited to the Tour of Britain route

The 27-year-old Yorkshireman is Britain's leading hope of a home winner and appears perfectly suited to the route. Swift specialises in rolling stages with flat finishes, and there are five days matching that description in this year's race. He can also call on a Team Sky team that should be strong on all terrains. LIke Stybar, Swift also has to limit losses on Hartside.

More from Tour Of Britain 2015

Benat Intxausti (Movistar)

Benat Intxausti, Giro d'Italia 2015, stage eight
Image: Benat Intxausti is a strong climber who won a stage of this year's Giro d'Italia

The 29-year-old Spaniard is one of the best climbers in the field and should flourish on the Tour of Britain's climbs, not least Hartside. If he can open up big gaps on his rivals on that climb and then keep pace on the rolling terrain, he could be there or thereabouts.

Dylan van Baarle (Cannondale-Garmin)

Dylan van Baarle, Tour of Britain 2014
Image: Dylan van Baarle returns as the defending champion

Van Baarle won last year's race after stealing a march on the peloton in a breakaway on stage seven and although the win was a major surprise, he nevertheless showed he has the attributes to flourish on a testing Tour of Britain route, so don't be surprised if he is once again at the sharper end of the general classification.

THE SPRINTERS

Mark Cavendish (Etixx – Quick-Step)

Mark Cavendish during stage seven of the 2015 Tour de France, a 190.5km stage between Livarot and Fougeres on July 10, 2015 in Fougeres, France.
Image: Cavendish is looking to add to his tally of 10 Tour of Britain stage wins

Cavendish goes into the race with two goals: pick up as many stage wins as possible and get in shape for the world championship road race in Richmond, United States, a fortnight later. The Manxman is already the most successful rider in the race's history, with 10 stage wins, but he hasn't won since stage seven of the Tour de France.

Andre Greipel (Lotto Soudal)

Andre Greipel, Tour de France, stage 21, Champs-Elysees
Image: Andre Greipel has enjoyed a prolific summer and will be the sprinter to beat

The 33-year-old German won four stages of the Tour de France and has picked up two other victories since, so he will go into the Tour of Britain as the man to beat in the sprints. He has three wins to his name at the race, so he doesn't have the pedigree on British shores that Cavendish boasts, but he does have the form.

Elia Viviani (Team Sky)

Elia Viviani
Image: Elia Viviani is the fastest finisher in Team Sky's line-up

While Swift will be challenging for sprint wins for Team Sky on the hillier days, Viviani is likely to be their protected rider on the flat sprint stages. The Italian has beaten Cavendish several times in the past and also won a stage of this year's Giro d'Italia, so he can be one of the fastest riders in the peloton on his day.

Moreno Hofland (LottoNL-Jumbo)

Moreno Hofland, Tour de Yorkshire, stage one (Picture: SWpic.com)
Image: Moreno Hofland on a stage of the Tour de Yorkshire in May (Picture: SWpic.com)

The 24-year-old Dutchman is not yet in the very top tier of sprinters, but he won a stage of the Tour de Yorkshire in May and appears to like racing on British roads, so he is likely to be a threat. 

OTHERS TO KEEP AN EYE ON

Sir Bradley Wiggins (WIGGINS)

Sir Bradley Wiggins, Tour de Yorkshire, Stage one (Picture: SWpix.com)
Image: Sir Bradley Wiggins will be riding for his new team, WIGGINS (Picture: SWpix.com)

The 35-year-old won the 2013 edition and then finished third last year, and although he is unlikely to be threatening the podium this time around, he will still be one of the star turns of the race. Wiggins is now racing for WIGGINS, who compete mainly in the UK and will therefore struggle to compete with the likes of Team Sky, Etixx – Quick-Step and BMC Racing, but that is not to say the old maestro won't turn on the turbos at one time or other.

Tao Geoghegan Hart (Great Britain)

Tao Geoghegan Hart, 2014 Friends Life Tour of Britain (Picture: SWpix.com)
Image: Tao Geoghegan Hart goes into the Tour of Britain in fine form (Picture: SWpix.com)

The 20-year-old Londoner is currently a trainee with Team Sky but will represent the Great Britain national team at the Tour of Britain. He goes into the race with ambitions of improving on his impressive 15th place last year, and he also has good form, having finished 13th at the Tour of Utah and seventh at the USA Pro Challenge during a successful August.

Alex Dowsett (Movistar)

Image: Alex Dowsett produced a rousing performance in last year's race

The 26-year-old from Essex was arguably the star of last year's race and briefly held the leader's yellow jersey before falling out of contention in the final couple of stages. Dowsett rode aggressively and seemed to revel in riding on home roads, so he will no doubt be keen to make just as big an impact on the race this year.

Alex Peters (Great Britain)

Alex Peters was taking part in his second race with the team during his stagiaire period
Image: Alex Peters is a trainee with Team Sky but will ride for Great Britain

Like Hart, 21-year-old Peters has recently signed for Team Sky as a trainee but will ride for Great Britain. He has ambitions of becoming a general classification rider in the future, so don't be surprised to see him vying for a place in the top 20 overall.

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