SOME of the world's leading teams in cycling have been confirmed for the OVO Energy Tour of Britain when it rides into Wirral next month.

Heading to Wirral for stage five of the huge tour, 10 teams from the highest category in professional road cycling will head take part in the race between 7 to 14 September.

Cllr Christine Spriggs, cabinet member for culture and tourism told the Globe: “We always knew that the Tour of Britain would bring the highest calibre of cycling talent to Wirral and we’re really excited by today’s announcement.

"We’re looking forward to welcoming these extraordinary riders to the borough next month.

"It will be an amazing opportunity for our residents and visitors to see world-class sporting action up-close and hopefully inspire a future generation of cyclists.”

Team INEOS (formerly Team Sky), Team Jumbo – Visma and Team Sunweb headline the 20 teams competing in this year’s race, the UK’s biggest and most prestigious cycle event.

In total this year’s OVO Energy Tour of Britain will welcome the likes of: the UCI World Tour; including EF Education First Pro Cycling; Lotto Soudal; Mitchelton - SCOTT; Team KATUSHA ALPECIN and the Movistar Team who won the team classification at the Tour de France last month.

It also includes Team Dimension Data of Mark Cavendish, who may select Wirral-born rider Steve Cummings to compete on home soil.

Five UCI ProContinental squads will compete, led by Corendon – Circus Cycling Team, who are already confirmed as bringing rising star Mathieu van der Poel to the race, while the Israel Cycling Academy team will make their debut.

Joining them will be Belgian squads Wanty – Gobert Cycling Team and Sport Vlaanderen - Baloise, who have both previously enjoyed riders winning jerseys in the OVO Energy Tour of Britain, and the Danish Riwal Readynez Cycling Team team who impressed on British roads this spring with a stage win in the Tour de Yorkshire for Alexander Kamp.

The French AG2R La Mondiale squad of Romain Bardet will also be riding, making their first appearance since 2009.

Fans will also be able to cheer on the Great Britain cycling team once again, with the line again expected to feature the best British professionals.

Four British UCI Continental squads will complete the field, having earned their places through qualification while OVO Energy Tour Series champions Canyon dhb p/b Bloor Homes will be joined by Madison Genesis, Team WIGGINS Le Col and making their race debut SwiftCarbon Pro Cycling.

More announcements about the provisional rider list for the OVO Energy Tour of Britain will be made throughout August.

OVO Energy Tour of Britain Race director Mick Bennett said: “Once again we’re delighted to welcome such a strong line-up of teams to the OVO Energy Tour of Britain.

"From fan favourites such as Team INEOS, Mitchelton-SCOTT and Team Jumbo Visma, alongside notable returnees AG2R La Mondiale, to the four British domestic teams who gained selection following a season-long qualification process, I think we’re in for an exciting eight days of racing in September.”

The OVO Energy Tour of Britain will head to Wirral as it hosts both the start and finish of Stage Five of the race on Wednesday, September 11.

Stage five will start and finish at Birkenhead Park and the route will also pass through the finish line within the park before competing a lap of Birkenhead and Wallasey.

The 108 mile stage will leave Wirral passing through Port Sunlight before racing through Cheshire West and Chester - including passing the Airbus UK manufacturing facility at Broughton.

Then, the route will return, racing through Heswall, Caldy and Hoylake before passing through the Birkenhead Park finish line and taking in a loop through Seacombe, Wallasey and New Brighton.