Tour of Britain 2013: Sir Bradley Wiggins favourite for victory

Sir Bradley Wiggins is favourite to win the 10th Tour of Britain, which begins in Peebles, Scotland on Sunday.

Wiggins was the main attraction at last year's event after victories in the Tour de France and Olympic time trial, but withdrew with a stomach bug.

The 33-year-old would be Team Sky's first winner of the race, which finishes on 22 September in London.

Mark Cavendish and Alex Dowsett are among the other Britons who will be hoping to secure stage victories.

Jonathan Tiernan-Locke, who won last year before joining Sky, is not competing, with Birmingham-born Irishman Dan Martin, of Garmin-Sharp, and Colombian Nairo Quintana, Movistar's Tour de France runner-up, among those seen as Wiggins's main challengers.

But of the 114 riders representing 19 teams, most eyes will be on the race favourite as he prepares for the Road World Championships in Tuscany later this month.

Wiggins is joined by Britons Ian Stannard and Josh Edmondson, Austrian Bernhard Eisel, Mathew Hayman of Australia and Spain's David Lopez in the Team Sky squad.

Jonathan Tiernan-Locke, winner in 2012, is absent

And Stannard, who finished third in 2008, senses a "real enthusiasm" for cycling in Britain, especially after last year's Olympics and Chris Froome emulating countryman Wiggins by winning the Tour de France.

The 26-year-old said: "I'm really looking forward to competing again on British roads. We will race all over the world but it's always nice to compete in front of your home fans."

The eight-stage race will move through the Lake District, Snowdonia and Dartmoor before concluding with a 10-lap stage in the centre of London, which Omega Pharma Quick-Step sprinter Cavendish will target.

Cavendish, who has won 25 stages of the Tour de France, believes the Tour of Britain continues to grow in popularity and prestige.

The Manxman, 28, said: "I was just out training with two of my team mates. We went into Peebles and it was pretty crazy and I think that is exciting.

"Last year the crowds were unbelievable. Not just where we had the Olympics, but the whole week, even in the bad weather.

"That's testament not only to how big cycling has come in the country across all disciplines, but for the amount of times this race had been on and what's it become. The standard of the teams that come here is phenomenal."

Tour of Britain race director Mick Bennett added: "We are proud to have the best field ever assembled for our 10th anniversary of the Tour of Britain.

"It has grown in stature, it has grown in safety and it has grown in rider and team attendance."