The final list of teams for the 2014 Friends Life Tour of Britain has been confirmed, revealing the 20 squads who will be racing for the Friends Life Yellow Jersey.

Not only is there a very strong line-up of teams, half of whom raced in the Tour de France, they are expected to their best possible squads.

Leading the way are ten teams who raced in last month’s Tour de France, including Team Sky, who won the 2013 Tour of Britain with Sir Bradley Wiggins, and who, according to his team, is in contention to defend his title this September.

Joining them will be a further seven UCI Pro Teams from the sport’s top level, including the team currently ranked number one in the world, Movistar Team. In total six of the world’s top ten teams will participate, with four of the top five ranked squads competing.

“Every year we get a very positive response from teams wishing to ride the Friends Life Tour of Britain and this year that has been even more so the case”, said race director Mick Bennett.

The tour gets under way in Liverpool on Sunday, finishing eight days later in central London, with 120 riders taking the start in the opening city centre stage at 14:15. All eight days will feature both live coverage and highlights on ITV and British Eurosport.

The Great Britain national team is joined by the UK’s five UCI Continental squads, led by Pearl Izumi Tour Series Champions Rapha Condor JLT, and debutants NFTO Pro Cycling, who won the 1.HC ranked RideLondon single-day event last weekend with Adam Blythe, and who currently lead British Cycling’s Elite Road Series team classification.

Two more teams will be making their debuts in Britain’s biggest free to spectate live annual sporting event – UCI Pro Team BMC Racing and UCI Pro Continental squad Team Novo Nordisk, a global all diabetes professional cycling team.