David Millar has become the favourite to win the "Battle for Beijing," a special one lap time trial at the Shropshire Star Newport Nocturne. Bradley Wiggins has been forced to pull out after his team called him up at the last minute to ride the GP Plouay.
Millar is in top-form after taking second place in the Eneco Tour, just 11 seconds behind Iván Gutiérrez of Caisse d'Epargne. However, he will have to watch out for the points winner of the Eneco Tour, Mark Cavendish. The time trial will also feature Geraint Thomas, youngest rider in this year's Tour de France, World Champion and Olympic medallist Rob Hayles and local hopeful, Simon Holt.
"It's a shame Bradley can't make it to the Nocturne," Promoter Nick Jeggo said. "He really wanted to ride and it would have been one of those rare races where he could have been based at his home instead of at some European hotel.
"The course is quite technical in places, but has two very long flat sections where the strongest riders can really use their power."
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