Mark Cavendish selected for Tour of Britain by Etixx - Quick-Step
Last Updated: 27/08/15 5:59pm
Etixx - Quick-Step have confirmed that Mark Cavendish will ride next month's Aviva Tour of Britain.
The 30-year-old Manxman will lead the Belgian team in the sprint stages at the eight-day race, which takes place from September 6-13.
He will use it as a warm-up for the UCI Road World Championships in Richmond, United States, where he is targeting victory in the road race on September 27.
Etixx - Quick-Step have also announced that Czech rider Zdenek Stybar, winner of stage six of last month's Tour de France, will be on their six-man roster. The other four riders will be announced in the coming days.
Cavendish, who has 10 Tour of Britain stage wins to his name, said: "I'm excited to ride the Tour of Britain. It's my home tour and it's always something special to ride in front of your national crowd. It's already my eighth time at the race and, year by year, I can see how cycling is growing in this nation.
"We have a strong team and we are ready to race. This year, the course is extremely difficult. It will be also a good final preparation for the UCI World Championships in Richmond."
Stybar added: "This is the first time that I ride this race. I'm pretty curious about it. My team-mates told me that it's a tough race, without a metre of flat road, designed in great scenarios. It will be even more difficult because the teams are formed by only six riders, so it's not easy to control the race.
"The atmosphere will be great, I'm sure. I have never raced on the road in United Kingdom, but I remember the great images of the Olympics and the Grand Depart of the Tour de France last year. It will be nice to be part of this race."
Cavendish will face competition in the sprints from Andre Greipel, who has been named as leader of Lotto Soudal's team.
