SIR Bradley Wiggins, Mark Cavendish and Marcel Kittel are among the top cyclists confirmed to be competing in the Friends Life Tour of Britain, which starts on Sunday (7 September).

The race, which is Britain’s biggest free to watch sporting event, will return to Devon for Stage Five, hosted by Devon County Council and sponsored by South West Highways, on Thursday 11 September.

Defending champion Sir Bradley Wiggins will lead Team Sky's squad after winning the race in 2013. He will line up alongside fellow British riders Ian Stannard and Ben Swift as part of their six-man squad.

The race will also see the world’s leading sprinters go head to head as Mark Cavendish, of Omega Pharma Quick-Step, takes on Marcel Kittel, of Team Giant Shimano.

Speaking about racing the eleventh edition of the race, Sir Bradley Wiggins said: "The Tour of Britain is a special race for me so to be returning as defending champion is a real honour. It's always been a tough race but the support we receive from the fans is incredible, and it's our home tour so I've always enjoyed racing it.

"From the start of the year it's always been a goal of mine to race the Tour of Britain. The race is growing in stature year on year and it's our chance to go there with a strong team and race in front of home fans to thank them for their support over the season."

The Movistar Team includes former British Time Trial Champion Alex Dowsett, while Nicholas Roche will return to the race for the first time since 2009 to lead the Tinkoff Saxo squad.

Other big name riders who will be competing include multiple French Champion and treble Tour de France stage winner Sylvain Chavanel, of IAM Cycling, who will be making his Tour of Britain debut. Tour of Britain 2011 winner Lars Boom, of Belkin Pro Cycling, will be looking to challenge for top honours again. Mark Cavendish’s teammate Mark Renshaw, who won the Devon Stage from Exeter to Exmouth in 2011, will also be competing.

South West riders who will be competing are Cornish sprinter Chris Opie, from Cornwall, who will be racing for Rapha Condor JLT, and former Mid Devon Cycling Club members Yanto Barker, of Team Raleigh, and Josh Hunt, of NFTO Cycling. There will also be a Great Britain team represented for a third year running.

The Devon Stage will cover 110miles (177km) of the county, starting from Exmouth to Exeter. The 120 riders on The Tour will face three Skoda King of the Mountains climbs at Mamhead, Haytor, and Stoke Woods/Pennsylvania Road, on the outskirts of Exeter. The route also takes in Budleigh Salterton, Woodbury, Topsham, Exminster, Starcross, Bovey Tracey, Haytor, Widecombe in the Moor, Princetown, Tavistock, Okehampton, and Copplestone, with YodelDirect Sprint points at Powderham Castle, Chudleigh and Crediton.

Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council Cabinet Member with responsibility for cycling, said: “We witnessed an incredible Devon Stage last year and everyone involved in The Tour was blown away by the amount of support along the route. I'm sure that everyone who's planning to watch the race will be delighted that Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish are returning to The Tour for a third consecutive year, and spectators will get to see some of the world's best professional cyclists. We're expecting another exciting stage and we could be treated to the world's best sprinters racing to the finish line in Exeter High Street. Hopefully we'll attract huge crowds again to show a global audience what makes Devon such a special place to visit.”

This year’s Friends Life Tour of Britain will start in Liverpool on Sunday (7 September) and finish in London with an individual time trial and a circuit race on Sunday 14 September.

The Tour will feature its biggest ever line-up of top tier UCI Pro Teams in the 20-team field. Live coverage of the opening Stage of the race will be broadcast on ITV, with the