Not since 1968 have so many British riders taken to the start line of the Tour de France. On Saturday, July 3, eight Britons and a British-based team will ride in the opening prologue of the 2010 Tour ushering in a new and exciting era for British cycling.
David Millar (Garmin-Transitions), Jeremy Hunt, Daniel Lloyd (both Cervelo), Charly Wegelius (Omega Pharma-Lotto), Mark Cavendish (HTC-Columbia), Bradley Wiggins, Steve Cummings and newly crowned British national champion Geraint Thomas (all Team Sky) are all on the start list.
The British-based Sky squad makes its Tour debut this year, the first time that a British team has taken part in the race since ANC-Halfords in 1987.
Last year, Wiggins equalled Robert Millar's 1984 record for highest placed British rider in the Tour, with fourth place. Manx sprint ace Cavendish won an astounding six stages, cementing his position as Britain's most successful professional rider in the history of the sport. Both are back for more this year.
Here we profile all eight of Britain's riders in the Tour, and as the race progresses we will be posting regular updates.
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Mark Cavendish
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Team: HTC-Columbia
Date of birth: 21/05/1985
From: Isle of Man
2010 wins so far: Tour of Catalonia stage; Tour de Romandie stage; Tour of California stage
2009 Tour performance: Six stage wins, 131st overall, second in points classification
How will he do? After scoring a massive six stage wins in last year's race, expectations for Cavendish will be running high even though the parcours offers slim pickings for the pure sprinters. His run-up to the race has been less than perfect, dogged by tooth problems, crashes and inappropriate finish-line hand gestures... but the Manxman has said all along that the green jersey and world championships in September are his two big goals for the year. And when Cavendish sets his sights on something, he usually gets it.
Full rider profile>>
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Bradley Wiggins
Team: Team Sky
Date of birth: 28/04/1980
From: Born in Ghent, grew up in London
2010 wins so far: Giro d'Italia stage one ITT
2009 Tour performance: Fourth overall
How will he do? Wiggins will be feeling the weight of expectation on his shoulders. Fourth last year, and with a new British-based team built around his Tour aims, Wiggins is being touted as Britain's best Tour hope in recent history. He tested his legs in the Giro, snatching the opening time trial win and spending a day in the leader's jersey - and he could do the same at the Tour. This year's mountains stages are hard - the final week in the Pyrenees will be key and will test Wiggins and the Sky team to its limit. Not good news for Wiggins is that there are only two time trials - the short prologue and penultimate 59km test. If he limits his losses in the mountains and blitzes the final TT, a podium place will be within his grasp.
Full rider profile>>
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David Millar
Team: Garmin-Transitions
Date of birth: 04/01/1977
From: Scotland
2010 wins so far: Criterium International stage; Three Days of De Panne stage and overall
2009 Tour performance: 85th overall
How will he do? Pre-doping ban, Millar was Britain's Grand Tour golden boy, wth Tour de France stage wins in 2000, 2002 and 2003 (later anulled). A two-year suspension for taking EPO could have finished the Scot, but he came back to the Tour in 2006 a changed man. Now, with Wiggins and Cavendish taking up the 'British Tour rider' limelight, Millar has been quietly and effectively building up his stage racing form, winning a time trial stage of the 2009 Vuelta a Espana and clinching the overall win in the 2010 Three Days of De Panne with some canny riding. The raw talent is there, as it always has been, but now there's a smarter racing brain to match. Look out for him in the time trials and individual stage wins.
Full rider profile>>
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Geraint Thomas
Team: Team Sky
Date of birth: 25/05/1986
From: Cardiff, Wales
2010 wins so far: British road race national champion
2009 Tour performance: Did not ride
How will he do? Newly-crowned British road race national champion Thomas has had a new lease of life at Team Sky, putting in some immensely strong performances across the board. In early June, Thomas placed fourth behind Alberto Contador in the time trial prologue of the Criterium du Dauphine and then placed in the top ten of the following four stages, including a long time trial. He's there as a key helper for Wiggins, but could well place top ten in the opening prologue. We're looking forward to seeing Thomas in the British national champ's colours at the Tour and can think of no better rider to wear them.
Full rider profile>>
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Steve Cummings
Team: Team Sky
Date of birth: 19/03/1981
From: Wirral
2010 wins so far: None
2009 Tour performance: Did not ride
How will he do? Cummings is a solid domestique and capable of turning on the style in the escapes and breaks if the opportunity arises - as he again proved in this year's Giro d'Italia where he placed fifth on stage 17 after getting into a break. Could do something similar in the Tour, but will most likely be seen riding alongside Sky's overall contender Wiggins.
Full rider profile>>
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Charly Wegelius
Team: Omega Pharma-Lotto
Date of birth: 26/04/1978
From: Born in Finland, grew up in England
2010 wins so far: None
2009 Tour performance: 59th overall
How will he do? Seasoned grand tour campaigner Wegelius is another Brit who seems to have found a new lease of life this season. During the Giro in May, Wegelius could be seen instigating escapes and attacks rather than playing nursemaid to an overall contender. He's a good climber and could well make a go of a break on one of the hillier stages. With no Cadel Evans to look after and with no clear overall rider on its squad this year, the Omega Pharma team will have to rely on stage wins for some badly-needed coverage. Can Wegelius be their man?
Full rider profile>>
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Jeremy Hunt
Team: Cervelo Test Team
Date of birth: 12/03/1974
From: Macklin
2010 wins so far: None
2009 Tour performance: Did not ride
How will he do? Hunt has been handed his first ever Tour de France ride in his 15th year as a professional, and at the age of 36. He had a solid Tour de Suisse a couple of weeks ago, catching the eye of his Cervelo Tour team selectors. Will be there as lead-out man for Thor Hushovd in his green jersey campaign and as a helper for overall hope Carlos Sastre, particularly during the opening stages in Holland and Belgium - Hunt's favoured landscape.
Full rider profile>>
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Daniel Lloyd
Team: Cervelo Test Team
Date of birth: 11/08/1980
From: Christchurch, Dorset
2010 wins so far: None
2009 Tour performance: Did not ride
How will he do? Dan Lloyd is one of the hardest working men in the peloton. His race schedule this season would make most grown men cry. He was Carlos Sastre's right-hand man at the Giro, helping him to climb back up the overall classification after a torrid opening week. Lloyd is likely to be repeating this sterling back-up job at the Tour.
Full rider profile>>
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Photos by Graham Watson, Andy Jones and Gregor Brown
Related links
Tour de France 2010: Who's riding?
Tour de France 2010: Cycling Weekly's coverage index - including stage previews, maps, news and more
Brits in the Tours: From Robinson to Wiggins
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Nigel Wynn worked as associate editor on CyclingWeekly.com, he worked almost single-handedly on the Cycling Weekly website in its early days. His passion for cycling, his writing and his creativity, as well as his hard work and dedication, were the original driving force behind the website’s success. Without him, CyclingWeekly.com would certainly not exist on the size and scale that it enjoys today. Nigel sadly passed away, following a brave battle with a cancer-related illness, in 2018. He was a highly valued colleague, and more importantly, an exceptional person to work with - his presence is sorely missed.
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