Mark Cavendish and André Greipel to renew rivalry at Tour of Britain

Former HTC colleagues André Greipel and Mark Cavendish will renew their rivalry at the Aviva Tour of Britain next month.

Etixx-Quick Step rider Cavendish is the most successful rider in the race since it was revived in 2004 with 10 stage wins, including one in London in 2011 a week before he became World Champion.

Lotto-Soudal’s Greipel, meanwhile, won three stages of the 2010 edition of the race, including the finale in London’s Docklands, moved from the centre of the capital due to a clash with the Pope’s visit.

Both riders being on the roster for next month’s race revives a rivalry that goes back to before HTC Highroad broke up at the end of the 2011 season, with Greipel insisting that he was the stronger sprinter and should be favoured for races such as Milan-San Remo and the Tour de France.

Results back then did not bear that out, but the big German had a much better Tour de France last month than his rival, winning four stages – including the finale on the Champs-Elysées where Cavendish was once unbeatable – against the Manxman’s one.

Cavendish, who will be joined on the race by three-time World Cyclocross champion and, as of last month, Tour de France stage winner Zdeněk Štybar, said: "I'm excited to ride the Tour of Britain. 

“It's my home tour and it's always something special to ride in front of your national crowd.

“It's already my eighth time at the race and year by year I can see how cycling is growing in this nation.

“We are at the start to try to be successful as we were last year. We have a strong team and we are ready to race.

“This year the course is extremely difficult,” he added. “It will be also a good final preparation for the UCI World Championships in Richmond.”

Race director Mick Bennett said: "We are always pleased to see Mark Cavendish racing in his home Tour and he will have a very strong Etixx Quick-Step team riding alongside him, particularly in Zdeněk Štybar.

“Last year we saw the team win three stages of the race and a similar result would not surprise me this September.”

Referring to Greipel’s participation, he added: “"This is great news for British fans who can look forward to seeing Andre Griepel battling it out in the sprints at the Aviva Tour of Britain.

"We fondly recall Andre's previous participation in the race, and are delighted that he, and the Lotto-Soudal team are returning to race in Britain.

“With three or four stages of this year's race likely to be bunch sprints, there is sure to be stiff competition for stage wins that we are sure will make for great racing.”

Other riders confirmed for the race include 2013 Milan-San Remo winner Gerald Ciolek of MTN-Qhubeka, as well as his team mate Edvald Boasson Hagen, who won the Tour of Britain with HTC in 2009, and defending champion Dylan van Baarle of Cannondale-Garmin.

Aviva Tour of Britain 2015

Stage 1  Sun 6 Sep    Beaumaris, Anglesey to Wrexham, 177.7km
Stage 2  Mon 7 Sep    Clitheroe to Colne, 159.3km
Stage 3  Tue 8 Sep    Cockermouth to Floors Castle, Kelso, 216km
Stage 4  Wed 9 Sep    Edinburgh to Blyth, 217.4km
Stage 5  Thu 10 Sep   Prudhoe to Hartside, 166.2km
Stage 6  Fri 11 Sep   Stoke-on-Trent to Nottingham, 192.8km
Stage 7  Sat 12 Sep   Fakenham to Ipswich, 227.4km
Stage 8  Sun 13 Sep   London stage presented by TfL, 86.8km