Lemko Evenpoel, who won a historic double gold medal in the road competition at the Paris Olympics, will return to the Tour of Britain, it was announced Friday. Evenpoel will compete with Frenchman Julien Alaphilippe from Sourdal-Quick Step.

The Tour of Britain will start on September 3 in Kelso and will consist of six stages, ending on Sunday, September 8 in Felixstowe.

Alaphilippe is a two-time winner of the Tour of Britain (2018, 2021), and Evenpoel will be his debut.

Other riders competing in the Tour of Britain include Ethan Vernon (Israel Premier Tech), fresh off a silver medal in the men's Olympic team pursuit, and Tour de France mountain champion Jonas Abrahamsen (Uno X Mobility).

A total of 18 teams and 108 riders are expected to race in the professional series.

Evenepoel became the first male athlete to win the individual time trial and road race in Paris.

He will concentrate on the UCI Road World Championships in Zurich in September, where he will defend his title in the individual time trial. He will also likely face Tour de France rival Tadej Pogachal in the road race.

“Taddei is the best rider in the world and will be motivated in Zurich,” Evenpoel told Het Laatste Nieuws this week. 'I've had the Olympic title for four years, so I can go into the World Championships without a lot of pressure.'

“But if I were to go to the World Championships, it would be to achieve a higher goal. Both courses suit me and the Belgian team is very strong. Both courses suit me and the Belgian team is very strong.