EIGHTEEN of the world’s leading UCI teams are coming to the Scottish Borders in this year’s Tour of Britain next month.

Stage two of the 18th edition on the UK’s most prestigious race takes place between Hawick and Duns on Monday September 5 2022.

The 18 teams competing in the Tour of Britain 2022 are: Bardiani CSF Faizanè (Italy), Bingoal Pauwels Sauces WB (Belgium), BORA – hansgrohe (Germany), Caja Rural - Seguros RGA (Spain),Global 6 Cycling (New Zealand),Great Britain Cycling Team (Great Britain), Human Powered Health (USA), INEOS Grenadiers (Great Britain), Israel – Premier Tech (Israel), Movistar Team (Spain), Ribble Weldtite Pro Cycling (Great Britain), Saint Piran (Great Britain), Sport Vlaanderen – Baloise (Belgium),Team DSM (Netherlands), Team Qhubeka (Italy), TRINITY Racing (Great Britain), Uno-X Pro Cycling Team (Norway), Wiv SunGod (Great Britain)

Mick Bennett, Tour of Britain race director, said: “As ever we’re excited to welcome those teams competing in the Tour of Britain to the UK’s biggest bike race. It’s great to see plenty of familiar faces mixed with a couple of debutants.

“But, perhaps most interestingly, today’s announcement further hints at what awaits in potentially the most open and unpredictable, but certainly the hardest, edition of the race to date!”

The 2022 race starts in Aberdeen city centre and finishes eight days later on the Isle of Wight.

Along the way riders will tackle stages in the Scottish Borders, North East England, North Yorkshire, Nottinghamshire, Gloucestershire and Dorset.

ITV4 will continue to broadcast live flag-to-flag coverage of every stage and nightly highlights show, allowing fans in the UK to watch wherever they are.

The race will also be shown in over 150 countries worldwide, thanks to the event's partnerships with Eurosport and the Global Cycling Network.

Spectators can watch all the action by the roadside for free.

Last year's star-studded race was won by Belgian rider Wout Van Aert (Team Jumbo – Visma), with reigning world road race champion Julian Alaphilippe finishing third overall.

According to research by Frontline, a roadside crowd of over one million spectators resulted in the Tour of Britain generating £29.96m of net economic benefit for the UK economy.