Mark Cavendish has been announced as the first headline racer for this year's Tour of Britain.

The cycling event begins on September 5 and the first leg of the journey will see the riders embark on a 170km journey from Penzance visiting St Just, St Ives, Hayle, Camborne, Pool, Redruth, Falmouth, Penryn, Truro, Newquay, St Austell and the Eden Project before the first leg comes to an end in Bodmin.

Cavendish will race for the Belgian side Deceuninck-Quick-Step for this years event.

There will be various stages held across the country before the tour finishes in Aberdeen on September 12.

Cavendish who will be competing in the competition for the 12th time was looking forward to a return to racing on home soil after last years tour was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic, he said: "It's a race where I have always enjoyed success and I am really looking forward to racing with what I know will be a strong team.

"It has already been a special year for me and riding the Tour of Britain will be a great way to see so many of the people who have supported me throughout."

The previous winner of the competition was Mathieu van der Poel who won the tour event in 2019.