Sir Bradley Wiggins confirmed for 2013 Tour of Britain

Team Sky this morning announced its Tour of Britain (September 15-22) line-up, with Sir Bradley Wiggins among the six-man squad as expected.

Wiggins returns to the national tour for the third time in four years, with the 2012 Tour de France champion likely to be the favourite for the 16-kilometre, stage three individiual time trial around Knowsley, Merseyside. 

The 33-year-old stated in June his desire to ride the Tour as part of his preparation for the World Time Trial Championships which follow at the end of the month.

He will be joined by Ian Stannard, who was part of the triumphant Sky Tour de France team in July and finished third overall in 2008, as well as Josh Edmondson, who impressed en route to 16th place in last year's race.

As Cycling Weekly confirmed last month, defending champion Jon Tiernan-Locke will not take the start, with Australian Mathew Hayman, Austrian Bernie Eisel and Spaniard David Lopez - a last minute replacement for Peter Kennaugh - completing the Sky line-up.

The Tour of Britain 2013 begins in Peebles, Scotland on September 15, before finishing with a circuit race around central London a week later. 

Team Sky Tour of Britain line-up

DS: Servais Knaven

Sir Bradley Wiggins (GBr)

Josh Edmondson (GBr)

Bernie Eisel (Aut)

Mathew Hayman (Aus)

David Lopez (Spa)

Ian Stannard (GBr)

Related links

Tour of Britain 2013: Provisional start list

Tour of Britain 2013: Cycling Weekly's coverage index