BLACKPOOL cycling fans will have a chance to salute Olympic hero Bradley Wiggins when he speeds through the resort next week.

Wiggins is the star name in the revived Tour of Britain, which kicks off with a stage in the north west next Wednesday (September 1).

The Derbyshire-based rider beat Australian Bradley McGee in the individual pursuit final in Athens and will now line up against top riders from around the world for the 500-mile, five-day tour.

A race spokesman said: "This race is a great free to watch spectacle and the opportunity to salute the achievement of Bradley Wiggins.

"We hope that the people of the north west will really make an effort to get out on the streets to support the riders as they visit their own districts or get down to the starts and finishes"

Stars from 12 commercial teams and four national squads will take part in the event. They include three members of the US Postal-Berry Floor team which helped Lance Armstrong to his record-breaking sixth Tour-de-France victory, including Jose Azevedo who took fifth spot overall.

Olympic road race bronze-medallist, Axel Merckx, son of legendary Belgian rider Eddie, rides for Lott-Domo while Britain's Roger Hammond, seventh in Athens, joins the Mr Bookmaker team. The Tour of Britain was founded 50 year ago and has been through several incarnations since, becoming the Milk Race in the 1980s. It last took place five years ago.

The teams will ride into town along Yeadon Way at around 1pm before heading off on a sprint along the promenade through South Shore and on to Lytham before heading back to Manchester for the conclusion of the stage.

Highlights of the race will be shown in an 80 minute BBC TV programme, due to be broadcast on Sunday, September 12.