The route for the 2011 Tour of Britain has been unveiled and includes an individual time trial to round things off.
Sixteen teams confirmed for Britain's biggest race
The route for the 2011 Tour of Britain has been unveiled and includes an individual time trial which could help produce a first British winner since the race was re-launched in 2004.
The 10-kilometre test will feature on the final morning of the eight-day event which will be run as a split-stage in London, with the race's traditional closing circuit taking place around Whitehall in the afternoon.
And that could suit Team Sky trio Bradley Wiggins, Russell Downing and Alex Dowsett, who are all specialists in the discipline.
The battle for the new golden jersey will begin in the Scottish Borders between Peebles and Dumfries on Sunday 11 September, while day two sees the race head down to Kendal for what is likely to be a sprint stage into Blackpool.
Stage three takes place in and around Stoke-on-Trent, starting at Trentham Gardens and featuring the same uphill finish into the city centre which has been used on the three previous editions.
Two tough days of action follow immediately after with the race crossing into Wales and heading south from Welshpool to Caerphilly before jumping back over the border and into Devon for another lumpy stage between Exeter and Exmouth.
A second south-west stage sees the race return to Somerset for a 145km trek from Taunton to Wells, which features a finishing circuit through Shepton Mallet.
Stage seven moves across to East Anglia for the second successive year, and sees the longest stage of the race start at Bury St Edmunds and looping around into Sandringham before the split finale in the capital 24 hours later.
Race director Mick Bennett said: "We are very excited about the route for the 2011 Tour of Britain, particularly with the inclusion of the final day time trial in the very heart of London.
"Anyone who remembers the crowds who flocked to see the Tour de France prologue in 2007 will know what to expect and look forward to this September.
"After the success of the 2010 Tour of Britain we are pleased to unveil another tough and demanding route that visits England, Scotland and Wales, making it a true Tour of Britain."
Sixteen professional teams have also confirmed their participation with Team Sky being joined by fellow UCI ProTeams Garmin-Cervelo, HTC-Highroad and Leopard Trek.
