Tour de France winner and Olympic gold medallist Bradley Wiggins has confirmed he will be competing in the 2012 Tour of Britain – which comes to Caerphilly on Friday September 14.
Wiggins, who rides for Team Sky, announced his entry at a recent public cycling event in Barnoldswick, Lancashire.
When asked about his plans, Wiggins said: “I’m doing the Tour of Britain now.
“It’ll be nice. I’ll try to stay fit between now and then so I don’t embarrass myself. It’ll be good.”
Joining Wiggins in Team Sky will be the current World Champion on the road and a double-stage winner in last year’s Tour of Britain, Mark Cavendish, as well as a third British rider, Jeremy Hunt.
The eight-stage Tour of Britain begins in Ipswich on September 9. The sixth stage finale is to be held in Caerphilly town on September 14.
Almost 100 elite riders from across the world speed through the streets of Caerphilly County Borough into the town.
The Mayor, Cllr Gaynor Oliver and the leader of Caerphilly County Borough Council, Cllr Harry Andrews, last week attended a launch event for the Tour’s visit to Caerphilly.
Cllr Andrews said: “It was an absolute pleasure to welcome colleagues from the Tour of Britain to Caerphilly to launch the finale of the sixth stage of the race. I greatly look forward to welcoming them to our county borough again next month for the race itself, and would encourage as many people as possible to come along and cheer on the riders at this very prestigious event.”
Joining the guests at the launch event was Aberystwyth-based Gruff Lewis who rides for Team UK Youth – the team are making their debut in this year’s Tour of Britain. Gruff holds the title of 2011 Welsh Road Race Champion and 2011 Welsh Criterium Champion.
Former Wales rugby international Rhys Williams also came along to show his support – Rhys will be taking part in the Tour Ride, a charity race that runs alongside the Tour of Britain.
The Tour of Britain will enter the county borough near Nelson, travel down to Ystrad Mynach and then follow the old road through Llanbradach.
The competitors will then head into Caerphilly and face two gruelling climbs to the top of Caerphilly Mountain, before coming back down into the town for the stage finale against the backdrop of the magnificent Caerphilly Castle.