Landis celebrates his Tour de France victory in Paris

The American has indicated he wants to ride for his Phonak team in the event which begins in Glasgow on 29 August.

Landis, would be the first reigning Tour de France champion to compete in the UK since Miguel Indurain in 1994.

But he has yet to schedule a date for the hip replacement operation he needs, and medical advice could scupper his Tour of Britain plans.

A Phonak team spokesman said: "If the doctors set a date before September he will not ride in Britain.

"But if the date for the operation is later, he is highly likely to start the British Tour."

Landis is thought to be keen to ride in the Tour of Britain as some of the roads used in Kent and London will feature in next year's Tour de France.

World road race champion Tom Boonen and his Quickstep team have already signed up to ride in the British event.