SOME of the world's top cycling teams are gearing up to pass through Tavistock this September in the Tour of Britain race, and the teams have now announced their line-ups.

HTC-Columbia, Garmin-Transitions Pro Cycling Team and Team Saxo-Bank have confirmed they will be among 17 teams competing in the race, which will set off from Tavistock for stage five of the tour on September 15.

HTC Columbia won the 2009 Tour of Britain, with their former rider Edvald Boasson-Hagen taking the yellow jersey.

Their team for this year's race underlines their determination to defend the title, with a line-up headed by Tour Down Under winner Andre Greipel, Mark Renshaw, Tour of California winner Michael Rogers, as well as current Italian Time Trial Champion Marco Pinotti and his German equivalent Tony Martin.

Garmin-Transitions line-up includes Ireland's Dan Martin, recent winner of the Tour of Poland, as well as Tour de France stage winner Robbie Hunter and Australian Cameron Meyer, the current track world champion in the Team Pursuit, Madison and points race disciplines.

Team Saxo-Bank, ranked second in the world, includes Denmark's Alex Rasmussen, an Olympic silver medallist in the track Team Pursuit in Beijing, and Polish Time-Trial Champion Jaroslav Marycz.

It also features Johnathon Bellis from the Isle of Man who finished 12th in the 2008 Tour of Britain.

They will be joined by Dutch team Skil-Shimano and Belgian squad Topsport Vlaanderen-Mercator, and two British teams Sigma Sport-Specialised and Team Raleigh, who will be making their Tour of Britain debuts but include some experienced riders such as Simon Richardson, Dan Fleeman and Dale Appleby.

Devon County Councillor for highways and transportation Stuart Hughes said: 'Such world class teams demonstrate what a high profile event the Tour of Britain is.

'It's great for spectators who will be able to see some of the best cyclists from home and abroad racing through their communities, and we hope everyone enjoys the occasion.'

The Tour of Britain begins in Rochdale on Saturday September 11 and finishes in London on Saturday September 18. Daily highlights will be broadcast on ITV4 at 7pm.