Tour of Britain 2017: How does it feel to compete in your home country?

One of the greatest events in the UK cycling calendar, the Tour of Britain starts this Sunday in Edinburgh. Many of the world’s top professional teams and riders will battle it out over eight stages totalling 1,312km before crossing the finish line in Cardiff.

Twenty teams have picked their six-rider line-up, including the Great Britain Cycling Team. Expect a gripping week of action as riders from across the UK look to make their mark on home turf.

Proud Welshmen Geraint Thomas, winner of the opening yellow jersey at this year's Tour de France, will lead Team Sky while Manx man Mark Cavendish will surely be looking to bag himself a stage or two with team MTN Qhubeka?

The addition of an individual time trial over a classic British 10-mile (16km) distance in Essex, the home county of four-time national time trial champion Alex Dowsett (Movistar), is bound to have us on the edge of our seats. Could this be the stage that cements the overall win?

(photo credit - Theo Southee - Tour of Britain 2016)

When Steve Cummings (Dimension Data) took the number one podium spot in 2016 he became the second British cyclist to take a home nation win at the Tour of Britain race. Bradley Wiggins was the first in 2013. As Essex born Dowsett competes to be the third, we ask Tour de France champion and Vuelta rider Oscar Pereiro how racing in your home country affects you mentally.

‘From my experience running at home makes you feel an extra pressure, nervous but at the same time, you have a motivation – a self-sufficiency knowing that you are competing in your country, with your family at the side of the road. It makes everything more special’.

And for Alex?

‘Alex is a great dominator of the time trial. Stage 5 will be a very special day. It’s important when you race that you feel the affection of your people but isolate yourself from everything. Concentrate and prepare. Your people help you to suffer on the bike, and that’s beautiful, but you cannot let it distract you. Concentration is the fundamental of racing’.

Watch the drama unfold daily (headphones on, work screen turned away from the boss) on ITV 4 or catch-up on the day's highlights from 8 pm.

The official Dare 2b 2017 Ovo Tour of Britain leaders’ cycling jerseys are available online and at our mobile shop at the start and finish of every stage.

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