The world's greatest cyclists are to compete in a London Olympics test event after completing the Tour de France. The Isle of Man's Mark Cavendish is among 148 riders provisionally signed up for the 140km race along the 2012 route through six London boroughs and into Surrey.
Cyclists will represent either their nation - a Team GB will take part - or their professional team.
The race on Sunday August 14 begins at 9am in The Mall and will take the riders to Box Hill near Dorking via Putney, Richmond and Kingston. It will end shortly after midday with cyclists doing an average speed of 28mph.
The three other UK cyclists still competing in the Tour de France - Geraint Thomas, David Millar and Ben Swift - are also expected to compete, assuming that they make it to Paris uninjured for the Tour's final stage on Sunday, which Cavendish has won for the last two years. He is currently wearing the Tour's green jersey, awarded to the rider with most points.
A 2012 source said: "They won't have another chance to ride the course before the Olympics without any cars on the road. It really is a dress rehearsal for us and for them."
