THE teams have been announced for this year's Tour of Britain.

The race comes to Somerset for the first time on 11 September and Somerset County Council is hosting the South West stage.

The teams competing are three of the teams that took part in the recent Tour de France - Agritubel, Team CSC and Barloworld. Team CSC will be looking for further success in the UK, after their rider Fabian Cancellara won the Tour de France Prologue held in London on July 7. Barloworld were also victorious in the Tour de France, winning Stages 9 and 11, the latter of these made Robbie Hunter the first South African to win a stage of the race.Team Great Britain will also be riding and looking for more success in the race after stage wins in previous editions, and the Tour of Britain is pleased to welcome six new participants to the Tour, including Agritubel, Tinkoff Credit Systems and the Rabobank Continental squad.

16 teams of six riders will be on the start line for the Prologue in Crystal Palace on Sunday September 9 for seven days of exciting racing.

Somerset County Council is hosting Stage two, which promises to be the toughest and most beautiful of the entire race as it rolls into Somerset for the first time in its illustrious history.

The Tour of Britain then moves on through the West Midlands, the North West and Yorkshire before finishing in Glasgow on Saturday September 15, the competitors having covered 950 kilometres of heart-pounding racing.

This year will be the fourth edition of The Tour of Britain since the race was re-established in 2004.

Technical Director Mick Bennett said: "This year's race will be the best yet, and the teams have been carefully chosen to make the most competitive and exciting race possible. We're looking forward to seven days of close racing, and the teams selected will provide that.We're also delighted to have five British teams amongst the world class field this year and three teams from this summer's Tour de France."Justin Robinson, Deputy Leader of Somerset County Council said: "Somerset County Council is delighted to hear that these excellent teams will be competing, which will create a fascinating and nail-biting spectacle for all to enjoy."The teams selected are as follows: Agritubel Barloworld Chocolade Jacques - Topsport Vlaanderen DFL - Cyclingnews - Litespeed Duja - Tavira Fuerteventura - Canarias Navigators Insurance Cycling Team Plowman Craven - Evans Cycles Racing Rabobank (Continental) Recycling.co.uk Skil - Shimano South Australia.com - AIS Team CSC Team Great Britain Team Konica Minolta Tinkoff Credit Systems