Tour of Britain 2013: Predicting Results for Final Two Stages

Saturday sees Stage 7 of the 2013 Tour of Britain take place, with competitors set to cycle 155 kilometres from Epsom to Guildford.
Hopes of a British winner are still strong after recent stage wins for both Sir Bradley Wiggins and Mark Cavendish, while Ireland's Sam Bennett emerged victorious in Stage 5.
With the epic race set to conclude in London on Sunday, here's a look ahead to the final two days and who we can expect to see cross the finishing line first.


Stage 7: Saturday, September 21
The penultimate stage of the tour may be slightly longer than Friday's route, but it does not contain the harsh climbs and mountainous terrain of its predecessor.
The most challenging aspect comes in the shape of a 21 percent gradient at Barhatch Lane, but other than that riders can expect a more hospitable ride.

Competitors will start from the picturesque Epsom Racecouse in Surrey at noon BST (7 a.m. ET) before making their way through the town centre and on toward Guildford.
The stage finishes on Guildford High Street, where Cavendish sprinted across the finish line for victory during the 2012 Tour.
The Manx Missile has the ability to repeat that feat, with the sprint finish down the historic road sure to favour his powerful style.
Prediction: Mark Cavendish to win Stage 7


Stage 8: Sunday, September 22
The Tour comes to a finish on Sunday with a 10-lap circuit through London, which is sure to draw huge crowds of spectators to the capital.
At just 88 kilometres, the final stage does not possess the distance or gradients to trouble the riders, but it will provide a test of sheer pace around the city's streets.

The circuit, which starts and finishes in Whitehall, will see competitors race past iconic locations including the Tower of London, Big Ben and the Houses of Parliament.
The flat course will suit Cavendish, and he appears favoured to do what he did in 2011 and sprint to victory in the final stage.
However, that shouldn't be enough to catch Wiggins overall, with the Olympic champion too experienced and talented to let his lead slip.
Prediction: Mark Cavendish to win Stage 8, but Sir Bradley Wiggins to win overall Tour of Britain