Wiggins is preparing for the World Championships in late September

Three-time Olympic champion Bradley Wiggins will compete in next month's Tour of Britain.

The 29-year-old, who finished fourth at this year's Tour de France, will ride with his Garmin Slipstream team in the British event.

The race starts in Scunthorpe on 12 September and finishes on Whitehall in London seven days later.

However, there will not be a Great Britain development team in the race for the first time in five years.

In the past, British Cycling have used the race to blood young riders, including the likes of sprint star Mark Cavendish and Olympic champion Ed Clancy.

606: DEBATE Have your say on cycling and the Tour of Britain

But this year they have opted instead for the Tour de l'Avenir, which is effectively a Tour de France for under-23s.

"We did consider entering a mixed selection British pro-team," said Olympic programme coach Rod Ellingworth.

"But with a lot of British riders already signed up by teams competing in the Tour of Britain we didn't think it would be feasible."

Wiggins will use the Tour of Britain as preparation for the World Championships, where he will be part of a nine-man Great Britain team in the road race on 27 September.

He is also set to race in the British Time Trial Championships on Sunday 6 September.

However, Garmin manager Jonathan Vaughters said last week that there is no possibility releasing Wiggins from his contract to let him transfer to the new British team, Sky, for next season.

"I would have to be clinically insane to sell that contract," Vaughters told Cycling Weekly.

"It would represent a loss of a great rider and person, a loss of image, a loss of credibility and a loss of potential results."

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version