Tour de France champion and Britain's Olympic hero Bradley Wiggins will be part of the huge cycle racing roadshow coming to the South Hams next month.

The four times Olympic gold medallist, who became the first Briton to win the coveted Tour de France race earlier this year, has confirmed he will be part of the Tour of Britain road race – with one of the stages set to end in Dartmouth.

His presence in the race will be a major coup for Dartmouth and the rest of the South Hams on the route of the biggest cycle race in the UK.

Meanwhile, road closure details have been released showing how Dartmouth will be affected when the scores of racing cyclist hit the town for the end of the Westcountry leg of the race on Saturday, September 15.

The lower half of College Way will close from 1.15pm to 2.30pm ready for the racing bikers to battle it down the steep hill before making a 90-degree turn into the North Embankment.

Mayors Avenue and the North Embankment will be closed from 4.45am on the morning the race until 7.30pm that evening while The Quay will shut from 2.15pm to 2.45pm.

During the closure times the alternative route in and out of the town will be along Victoria road.

Wiggins, who has been rested by Team Sky following his hugely successful summer, said at the weekend: 'I'm doing the Tour of Britain. It'll be nice. I'll try and stay fit between now and then so I don't embarrass myself. It'll be good.'

Dartmouth district and county councillor Jonathon Hawkins, who has been urging the town to do its utmost to capitalise on the race visit, said of Bradley Wiggins' part in the race: 'It's absolutely fantastic news. It's really good news for Dartmouth and really good news for Devon.

'Hopefully people will come to watch it. The park and ride will be open on both sides of the river.'

And Dartmouth district councillor Hilary Bastone added: 'I think it is a superb bonus for Dartmouth. The Tour of Britain race coming to Dartmouth is a fantastic opportunity for the town but to have Bradley Wiggins here is an absolute bonus on top of that.'

South Hams MP Dr Sarah Wollaston said she hoped as many people possible would come and cheer on the riders, among whom will be Wiggins' team mate Mark Cavendish, the 2011 Road Race World Champion and winner of the 2011 BBC Sports Personality of the Year Award.

'Anyone who has watched the tour go by will know what a great experience it is and for all of us who missed out on the Olympic ballot, a chance to see some of our incredible cyclists in action,' she said. 'If the Olympics has given you and your family the urge to jump on a bike, then do come along and sample firsthand the thrill and excitement of the chase.

'It's great news to hear that Bradley Wiggins has confirmed that he will be riding the tour, so it would be great to cheer him on alongside Totnes's own Yanto Barker.'

The Tour of Britain is expected to bring tens of thousands of people into Dartmouth for the race finish.

The town is already looking at laying on various events as the race organisers' roadshow takes over Mayors Avenue car park for the day and turns the North Embankment into an exciting sprint finishing venue.

Devon has been hosting a leg of the race for the last five years, although this is the first time it has ever involved Dartmouth.

It is reckoned the race brings more than £14m into the local economy and showcases the area to a worldwide television audience.