A WORLD-CLASS line up of cycling teams have been confirmed for this year’s Tour of Britain, which has a stage in East Lancashire.

The Team Sky squad of Tour de France winner Chris Froome join Mark Cavendish’s Etixx Quick-Step squad and the American big-hitters BMC Racing in the stage race.

The Team Raleigh GAC squad of East Lancashire pair Ian Wilkinson and Brad Morgan are also set to start along with Sir Bradley Wiggins’ Team Wiggins squad.

The line-up, which has been hailed as the best in the race’s history by Tour of Britain chiefs, will see a host of top cyclists tackle East Lancashire roads during stage two from Clitheroe to Colne on Monday, September 7.

The race starts on September 6 and finishes in London on September 13.

In total nine world tour teams are included, all of whom featured in this year’s Tour de France, along with the Pro Continental teams including South Africa’s MTN Qhubeka, seven British and Ireland based squads and a Great Britain national team.

A number of the teams use the Tour of Britain as preparation for the World Championships which this year take place in America at the end of September.

“This is undoubtedly the strongest line-up of teams to have appeared in the Aviva Tour of Britain,” said Race Director Mick Bennett.

“The Aviva Tour of Britain presents a fantastic opportunity for British fans to see what will be the best line-up of teams and riders to race in this country this year.

“In 2014 we saw Michal Kwiatkowski, Sir Bradley Wiggins and the BMC Racing Team all go on to win World titles immediately after the race and are sure that this year’s Tour will provide an equal platform for riders going on to target the World Championships.”

Teams will not confirm their rider line-ups until closer to the event.

Teams: BMC Racing (USA), Etixx Quick-Step (Belgium), IAM Cycling (Switzerland), Lotto Soudal (Belgium), Movistar Team (Spain), Team Cannondale – Garmin (USA), Team Lotto NL Jumbo (Netherlands), Team Sky (Great Britain), Tinkoff – Saxo (Russia), Cult Energy Pro Cycling (Denmark), MTN Qhubeka (South Africa), Team Novo Nordisk (USA), An Post Chain Reaction (Ireland), JLT Condor presented by Mavic (Great Britain), Madison Genesis (Great Britain), NFTO (Great Britain), ONE Pro Cycling (Great Britain), Team Raleigh GAC (Great Britain), Team WIGGINS (Great Britain)