Thursday 25 February 2016 21:46, UK
Tour of Britain organisers hope Sir Bradley Wiggins will help to attract big crowds to a "spectator-friendly" 2016 edition of the race.
Wiggins could be a part of the race, which takes place from September 4-11, soon after his return from the Olympic Games in Rio, where he is expected to take part in the team pursuit on the track.
This year's Tour of Britain clashes with the final Grand Tour of the season, the Vuelta a Espana, but tour director Mick Bennett hopes plenty of big names will still be attracted to the 12th edition of the race, which starts in Glasgow with a 168km run to Castle Douglas.
The race could split up as early as stage two, which features an uphill finish on Beast Banks in Kendal, while stage three includes the 10km climb of Cat and Fiddle before a circuit finish at Tatton Park in Cheshire.
Stage four, based in Wales, includes more than 4,000 metres of total climbing and is also the longest stage of the race at 217km, finishing at the Royal Welsh Showground in Builth Wells.
Bath hosts the finish of stage five and the race heads further south on Friday September 9 when Dartmoor will provide the back-drop to a potentially race-winning summit finish on Haytor. Britain's Simon Yates won the last stage to finish there in 2013 with Wiggins claiming overall victory that year.
Saturday September 10 sees a split day in Bristol, with a 15km time-trial in the morning followed by an afternoon circuit race over five further laps of the time-trial course, which includes the nasty climb of Bridge Valley Road.
The traditional final stage again takes place in London the following day, with a circuit race finishing on Regent Street, where Edvald Boasson Hagen celebrated overall victory last year.
"The Wiggins team, who are preparing for Rio, have verbally committed to me, and hopefully that can be a lap of honour for them with gold medals around their necks," Bennett said.
"Wouldn't that be fantastic? Bradley is such an icon, such a rock star, and it would be great for him to tour the country before closing down an amazing career.
"I don't know if this will be the toughest edition of the race yet but I think it should be the most exciting, and it's certainly the most spectator-friendly.
"Spectators will be able to see far more of the race than ever before. Bristol will be a completely spectator-friendly day with a time trial and then five laps. But it will also be tough for the riders.
"The last time we finished on the Bristol Downs one climb split the entire race, and this sees them go up five times. It could be pivotal."
Tour of Britain route:
Stage 1: Sunday, September 4 - Glasgow to Castle Douglas (168km)
Stage 2: Monday, September 5 - Carlisle to Kendal (195km)
Stage 3: Tuesday, September 6 - Congleton to Tatton Park (182km)
Stage 4: Wednesday, September 7 - Denbigh to Builth Wells (217km)
Stage 5: Thursday, September 8 - Aberdare to Bath (205km)
Stage 6: Friday, September 9 - Sidmouth to Haytor (150km)
Stage 7(a): Saturday, September 10 - Bristol Individual Time Trial (15km)
Stage 7(b): Saturday, September 10 - Bristol Circuit Race (76.5km)
Stage 8: Sunday, September 11 - London (100km)
