EXCITEMENT is building in Crediton after the recent announcement that Sir Bradley Wiggins will ride through Crediton in the Tour of Britain cycle race on Thursday, September 11. Team Sky boss Sir Dave Brailsford says Bradley Wiggins will attempt to retain his title during the event. Wiggins, who won the Tour de France in 2012 and won a silver medal in the team pursuit at the Commonwealth Games last month, will lead Team Sky at this year's Friends Life Tour of Britain, Brailsford confirmed in a BBC interview. Other riders who will be competing are expected to be named soon. The Devon Stage, hosted by Devon County Council and sponsored by South West Highways Ltd, will cover 110miles (177km) of the county. Starting from Exmouth at 11am and finishing in Exeter, it will be Stage Five of the race, which is Britain's biggest free-to-watch sporting event. A record 120 riders, from 20 squads, will face three Skoda King of the Mountains climbs at Mamhead, Haytor, on Dartmoor, and Stoke Woods/Pennsylvania Road, on the outskirts of Exeter. The route will also take in Budleigh Salterton, Woodbury, Topsham, Exminster, Starcross, Bovey Tracey, Haytor, Widecombe in the Moor, Princetown, Tavistock, Okehampton, and Copplestone, with Yodel Direct Sprint points at Powderham Castle, Chudleigh and Crediton. Councillor Stuart Hughes, Devon County Council cabinet member for highways, said: "I'm sure everyone will be delighted to see Sir Bradley Wiggins return as he bids to retain his Tour of Britain title. "He is always a big draw for fans and we can expect plenty of visitors and an excellent turnout right across Devon again – which is great news for the local economy. "We have more of the top teams competing in the race than ever before so it should be an exciting race." This year's race will feature its biggest ever line-up of top tier professional teams. It will start in Liverpool on Sunday, September 7 and finish in London with an individual time trial and a circuit race on Sunday, September 14. The cyclists are expected to arrive in Crediton, from Copplestone, at about 2.58pm and will take part in a Yodel Sprint in the town. It is hoped that a banner will be placed across the High Street to welcome the cyclists and other events are being planned ahead of the day. The Tour of Britain cycle race last went through the town in September 2011 and thousands of people, including hundreds of students from Queen Elizabeth's Academy, Crediton, as well as shopkeepers, workers and town residents lined the streets to watch. A sprint stage was then part of the race in Western Road, Crediton. At that time, Colin Skinner, PE teacher at QE, said: "The Tour of Britain directly passing our school provided a fantastic opportunity for our pupils to watch elite level sport for free, right on our doorstep. "To see all of our pupils on the roadside representing the school so well provided a superb atmosphere." Cllr Frank Letch, the Mayor of Crediton, said it was "exciting news" that the Tour of Britain was returning to the town. He added: "Any major national event which comes to or through the town and puts us 'on the map' must be welcomed." For more information about the race, go to: http://www.southwesttourofbritain.co.uk">www.southwesttourofbritain.co.uk and: http://www.tourofbritain.co.uk">www.tourofbritain.co.uk . Alan Quick