GLASGOW TO HOST CYCLE STARS
SCOTTISH cycling fans will have the chance to cheer on Olympic hero Sir Bradley Wiggins at close quarters next weekend when the Tour of Britain sets off from Glasgow’s George Square. Sir Bradley, who won his eighth Olympic medal in Rio, yesterday confirmed his participation in the event which starts in the city on Sunday September 4. And he will be joined in Team Wiggins by Welshman Owain Doull, who helped him take the gold medal for Great Britain in the team pursuit alongside Ed Clancy and Steven Burke. ‘We’re delighted to be welcoming two of our Olympic champions to the Tour of Britain just three weeks after their success in Rio,’ said race director Mick Bennett. ‘As a former winner of the Tour of Britain, it is always a pleasure to welcome Sir Bradley Wiggins back to Britain’s biggest race, while Owain Doull was the star of the 2015 Tour, showing he has a very bright future ahead of him.’ As well as 2012 Tour de France champion Wiggins — whose team will include world points race champion Jonathan Dibben — other big names taking part will include Mark Cavendish, who won silver in the Omnium event in Rio, and Steve Cummings (both of Dimension Data) and German Andre Greipel (Lotto-Soudal). It will be the first time Glasgow has been used as the depart stage for the Tour of Britain since 2006. After kicking off in George Square, the 161km stage one of the eight-day race will travel south before finishing in Castle Douglas, Dumfries and Galloway. The Tour of Britain, which is the highest-ranked professional cycle race in the country, will finish with its traditional conclusion in central London. Three hours of live coverage will be broadcast from each stage of the event every day, with both ITV4 and the BIKE Channel UK showing the race live, while ITV4 will also air a one-hour highlights programme during each day of the event.