Bradley Wiggins's wife will join Newport Nocturne bike race

Cath Wiggins, 32, has pledged her support for the event on September 1.

But it is unclear whether her husband, who became the first Briton to win the Tour de France and then followed it up with Olympic gold in the time trial event, will be in the town to support his wife of seven years.

Nocturne promoter Nick Jeggo said: "Bradley is a busy man so he's unlikely to come – but you never know. It is nice to see Cath riding and there are a number of top professionals and some local riders involved."

Bradley, and Team Sky team-mate Mark Cavendish, are signed up to ride in the Tour of Britain next month. Stage six of the tour will start in Welshpool on September 14.

Cath, who has two children with Bradley, competes as an amateur in the track league in Manchester.

The pair live in Eccleston, Lancashire, a short drive down the M61 to the Manchester Velodrome, home of British Cycling.

The Nocturne race takes place on the streets of Newport and attracts more than 15,000 spectators.

Mr Jeggo said he was hoping that the huge interest in cycling following the Olympics would boost those numbers even more.

Organisers decided to add a women's race to the event to celebrate the success of the females in the sport.

Hannah Walker, of MatrixFitness/Prendas Team, a team-mate of Olympic champions Dani King and Jo Rowsell, will be racing.

Kate Evans, of TeamType1, and Lauren Creamer, of Abergavenny RC, will also be among the favourites while Shrewsbury-based Victoria Grimmer, of Stan James Cycles, will be looking to get involved among the front-runners.

Mr Jeggo added: "I wanted about 30 to 35 riders and in the end we have got 40 which is a really good turnout. It would have been nice to get one or two of the Olympians to headline it."

In the men's race Olympic gold medal cyclist Ed Clancy has signed up to take part along with Wolverhampton ace Andy Tennant.