Tour of Britain 2008

British fans will get the chance to experience the flair and style of USA's Rock Racing at first hand this September, as organisers of The Tour of Britain today announced that the team will be on the London start line of the 2008 race.

The squad backed by clothing company Rock & Republic, are the latest major international team to confirm that they will be riding this year’s Tour of Britain with Barloworld and Team Columbia (High Road).

The American team are the twelfth team to be announced as riding this year’s Tour of Britain, and join a mouth watering list of teams that combines Tour de France squads Barloworld and Team Columbia, with the very best teams from the British domestic calendar, like Rapha-Condor-Recycling, Plowman Craven and Pinarello RT.

Leading the provisional line-up are a trio of well-known names in double American champion and top sprinter Fred Rodriguez, past Tour de France yellow jersey Victor Hugo Pena and former Lance Armstrong lieutenant, Tyler Hamilton.

The bad boys of racing?

Supporting them will be former World and Olympic Team Pursuit champion Peter Dawson and Rahsaan Bahati, who has been in great form so far this season, winning six races Stateside.

Commenting on the announcement, Tour of Britain Technical Director Mick Bennett said: “We’re delighted to be able to confirm Rock Racing for this year’s race. The team will be no doubt be bringing the same glamour and rock and roll feel to The Tour of Britain that they have been doing to races in America so far this season.

I’m also sure that they will make a fantastic addition from a racing point of view, as they have a number of riders who should be able to win stages and possibly compete for the overall classification.”

The Tour of Britain will announce shortly the remaining four teams who will take the start of the 2008 Tour, which begins at the very heart of London on Sunday 7th September. The race for this year has been extended to eight days, and will finish in the 2008 European Capital of Culture, Liverpool, on another exciting city centre based circuit on Sunday 14th September.

Website - www.tourofbritain.co.uk