The Poop on the Tour of Britain

The Tour of Britain is getting more attention this year, and for good reason.

First, the peleton will include Belgians Tom Boonen and Nick Nuyens, from Quickstep, and T-Mobile's Andreas Kloden of Germany and Michael Rogers of Australia.

Second, the London finale incorporates sections of the 2007 Tour de France route and the 2012 Olympic road-racing course.

Third, the stages look interesting, especially the key stage on Thursday from Bradford to Sheffield which traverses the Yorkshire Dales and the Peak District and includes several steep climbs.

And fourth, cycling has the mountain of credibility to climb, writes Jeremy Whittle of the Times of London:

"The British race may not yet have the cachet of the Tour de France, but with the established European scene in crisis after a traumatic summer of doping scandals, the Tour of Britain is one of several shorter and less commercialised events that may prove to be more ethically sustainable than its gladiatorial cousins."

Here's some other stories on this interesting race that will challenge the ongoing Vuelta a Espana for attention (but not Tooth's) this week:
-- Tough test can bring the best out of a tarnished sport
-- British tour hopes to blow away cloud of controversy
-- Boonen and chums have the pedigree
-- Tour of Britain stage guide
-- Cycling: Tour ace backs Cooke award