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Sixteen teams – including Discovery Channel, T-Mobile, Quickstep, Phonak and Cofidis – will race the following stages:
Stage 1 Glasgow to Castle Douglas
Stage 2 Carlisle to Blackpool
Stage 3 Leeds to Sheffield
Stage 4 Buxton to Nottingham
Stage 5 Birmingham
Stage 6 Westminster, London
As last year, the London course will be 45 laps around a one mile circuit starting and finishing in Whitehall, following a route through Trafalgar Square, Northumberland Avenue, Victoria Embankment and Parliament Square.
Mayor of London, Ken Livingstone said: "In the year that London bids to host the 2012 Olympic Games, we are delighted to once again welcome the final stage of the Tour of Britain.
"The Tour of Britain will be a fantastic spectacle and a fun day out. It will help to highlight the health benefits and enjoyment that cycling can offer Londoners and will illustrate the first rate facilities and experiences that London has for all tourists and visitors.”
A press release from Transport for London said: "The race comes as Londoners are showing an increasing enthusiasm for cycling in the capital for recreation and transport. London-wide cycling increased
23% to May last year compared with 2003/4 and it has increased 62% on Transport for London’s road network since 2001. This is the fastest growth in cycling of anywhere in the UK. To help achieve this, TfL’s cycling budget is rising from £12 million in 2004 to £19.2 million in 2005/06."
