Tour of Britain 2023: Seven riders to watch

The 2023 Tour of Britain starts on September 3 with the eight-day race taking in an exciting route that spans England and Wales. A full start list has yet to be published but the race organisers have announced a star-studded selection of the starters with Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers), Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma) and Sam Bennett (Bora Hansgrohe) all set to line up for stage 1 to Manchester.

Ahead of the race, we've picked seven must-watch riders with a mix of WorldTour veterans and up-and-coming stars of the future.

Wout van Aert (Jumbo-Visma)

Tour of Britain pedigree: One overall title in 2021, and four stage wins

Analysis: It’s Wout van Aert, so it’s not like the route has to be specifically flat or hilly in order for him to perform, and with a number of stages toying between breakaways and sprints the versatile Belgian should have a field day. Although he has been consistent through the season, the 28-year-old has only won twice this year. The Tour of Britain might not be a WorldTour race but it’s a perfect event for Van Aert to bump up that victory tally.

Sam Bennett (Bora-Hansgrohe)

Tour of Britain pedigree: One stage win, back in 2013.

Analysis: It’s been a frustrating campaign for the Irish sprinter who has been deemed surplus to requirements at Bora-Hansgrohe ahead of the 2024 season. A former Tour de France green jersey winner, it’s almost certain that Bennett will move on at the end of this season with AG2R Citroën in pole position to sign the 32-year-old. Having missed out on a Vuelta a España spot following a surprise Tour de France omission, Bennett will be highly motivated to mop up every opportunity he can before the curtain comes down on the year. Bora-Hansgrohe have at least provided the sprinter with a competitive lead-out, and with a surplus of sprint stages on offer the Irishman should be in the mix to add to his one and only stage win here from back in 2013.

Jack Rootkin-Gray (Saint Piran)

Tour of Britain pedigree: Making his second appearance

Analysis: Rootkin-Gray finished in a highly credible fourth at the U23 men’s race at the recent UCI World Championships with GCN later revealing that the 20-year-old had been heavily linked with a move to EF Education-EasyPost for 2024. Having already picked up a handful of wins this year, the youngster’s Tour of Britain performance will be eagerly watched by his future employers but Saint Piran will also be hoping that their asset can go out with a bang and garner some much-needed publicity on the road. There aren’t a huge amount of opportunities for Rootkin-Gray on the sprint-friendly course, but the final stage and a possible role in a breakaway earlier in the race could be on the cards.

Read more: Axel Laurance seals men’s U23 road race title as Rootkin-Gray comes home fourth

Gonzalo Serrano (Movistar)

Tour of Britain pedigree: The 2022 race winner

Analysis: The defending champion leads the line for a Movistar team that’s stacked with options. Max Kanter will compete for the sprints but Serrano, who beat Tom Pidcock to a key stage and the overall in the shortened 2022 race, will wear number one on his back. The 29-year-old has had a quietly consistent season, picking up a few placings here and there, but with his contract at Movistar set to expire the Spaniard might be desperate to use the Tour of Britain to showcase his talents to rival teams.

Tom Pidcock (Ineos Grenadiers)

Tour of Britain pedigree: Two appearances, second overall in 2022

Analysis: Pidcock may not have raced on the road since the Tour de France but the newly-crowned mountain bike world champion will arrive in Altrincham for stage 1 full of confidence and have the backing of the entire Ineos Grenadiers team behind him. Second last year by three seconds, the multi-disciplined all-rounder can virtually target any of the eight stages on offer and legitimately claim that they are winnable. The 24-year-old is headliner material and will be one of the biggest draws at his home tour.

Luke Lamperti (Trinity Racing)

Tour of Britain pedigree: Set for his third appearance

Analysis: As first reported by GCN earlier this summer, Lamperti is set for a move to Soudal Quick-Step in the off-season but before then the talented 20-year-old has the small matter of the Tour of Britain on his schedule. The current US national criterium champion, Lampert has a rapid turn of speed, and although he’s had a relatively quiet couple of months it’s worth remembering that he started the year with a bang, winning several races, and earning that move to Patrick Lefevere’s squad. With Fabio Jakobsen moving on from the Belgian team at the end of the year, Lamperti will automatically slot into the number two sprinter role behind Tim Merlier, but the American has a prime chance to take on a glut of WorldTour sprinters in Britain and gain valuable experience. A stage win for Lamperti and his Trinity Racing team would be huge.

Read more: Luke Lamperti signs two-year contract with Soudal-Quick Step

Olav Kooij (Jumbo-Visma)

Tour of Britain pedigree: Race debutant

Analysis: There’s no doubt that Wout van Aert will have a free hand when it comes to targeting stage wins and the overall but Kooij remains a world-class sprinter who on paper should be the fastest rider in the race. Having won stages in Paris-Nice and the Tour de Pologne - among several other victories - Kooij has a proven burst of speed at this level and with a robust lead-out that could include van Aert, the Dutch talent should vie with Bennett for the mantle of best sprinter in the race.

We'll be showing live and on-demand coverage of all eight stages of the Tour of Britain from Sunday, September 3 to Sunday, September 10. Head over to GCN+ to check the broadcast times and make sure you don't miss any of the action. Territory restrictions apply.