Wiggins will be looking to take his track form on to the roads

The Tour of Britain gets under way on 7 September with the opening stage taking place through the streets of London.

Last year's points winner Mark Cavendish misses the race to take part in the Tour of Missouri.

But Britain's double Olympic gold medallist Bradley Wiggins will line up in his home city for Team Columbia.

Fellow Olympians Chris Newton and Geraint Thomas will also take part in the race, which features eight stages and finishes on 14 September.

Thomas was part of GB's winning team in the team pursuit, while Newton won bronze in the points race in Beijing.

Wiggins, who has won medals at the last three Olympics, took gold in 2008 in both the individual pursuit and the team pursuit.

Britain's David Millar will also compete in the Tour of Britain, while France's Romain Feillu will return to defend his title and Kim Kirchen, who finished eighth in this year's Tour de France, will take part.

The opening stage will see the riders do 10 laps of a new circuit through the centre of London that organisers say will incorporate some of London's most famous landmarks, including Big Ben and the Tower of London.

Tour of Britain stages

7 September - Stage 1 (London)
8 September - Stage 2 (Milton Keynes-Newbury)
9 September - Stage 3 (Chard-Burnham on Sea)
10 September - Stage 4 (Worcester - Stoke-on-Trent)
11 September - Stage 5 (Kingston-upon-Hull - Dalby Forest)
12 September - Stage 6 (Darlington - Newcastle/Gateshead)
13 September - Stage 7 (Glasgow-Dumfries & Galloway)
14 September - Stage 8 (Blackpool-Liverpool)