Final teams confirmed for 2018 OVO Energy Tour of Britain
Posted on Tuesday 17th July 2018
The final list of teams for the OVO Energy Tour of Britain, which comes to Newport on Sunday 2 September, has been confirmed, including the identity of the four British UCI Continental teams that have qualified for the UK's most prestigious cycle race.
JLT Condor, ONE Pro Cycling, Madison Genesis and Canyon Eisberg will join the list of the world's top teams and riders in the eight-day event that gets underway in Carmarthenshire.
"Having fought hard throughout the season to qualify for the 2018 OVO Energy Tour of Britain, I am delighted to welcome Canyon Eisberg, JLT Condor, Madison Genesis and ONE Pro Cycling back to the race," said race director Mick Bennett.
"These four teams are extremely worthy in their place in the UK's most prestigious cycle race and, as the likes of Harry Tanfield and Connor Swift have already proved this season, our domestic teams can more than hold their own against the world's biggest and best teams. I have no doubt that they'll be in the thick of the action across all eight days in September."
Also confirmed for the race are Team Sunweb, who will be one of 11 UCI WorldTour teams racing in Britain's this September. The German squad last appeared in the race in 2016 when Tom Dumoulin finished third overall.
In total 13 teams who are currently competing in the Tour de France will be racing in the OVO Energy Tour of Britain, including all the UCI WorldTour teams plus UCI ProContinental squads Direct Energie and Wanty-Groupe Gobert.
In addition two further UCI ProContinental teams will take part: Aqua Blue Sport from Ireland, who make their race debut, and Italy's Bardiani-CSF, who have previously won two stages in Britain's most prestigious race.
A Great Britain national team will once again compete in the event, showcasing the very best talent from the next generation of British cycling stars.
Julie Harrington, Chief Executive of British Cycling, said: "With eleven UCI WorldTour teams confirmed for the race, this is a golden opportunity for our young riders to compete as a national team against some of the world's best riders.
"The calibre of this year's teams highlights the importance of the Tour of Britain in the racing calendar and we're proud that some of the most high-profile athletes of our sport will be competing once again on British roads.
"We anticipate that the mounting excitement around this event will help to encourage the next generation of cyclists and we hope that people are left feeling inspired to take to the saddle."
The OVO Energy Tour of Britain is British Cycling's premier road cycling event, giving cycling fans the opportunity to see the world's best teams and riders competing on their doorstep, taking place between Sunday 2 and Sunday 9 September 2018.
Newport will host the finish of stage one on 2 September. For more information visit www.newport.gov.uk/events