Team Sky today confirmed the eight riders who will support Chris Froome in his bid to become the 2013 Tour de France champion.
As expected, Froome's wingman Richie Porte, along with Edvald Boasson Hagen and Briton Geraint Thomas have been selected to race. Two further British riders have also been selected: Ian Stannard and Peter Kennaugh, both of whom make their Tour debut.
One surprise omission is Austrian Bernhard Eisel, who would have taken part in his 10th Tour had he been selected.
Climbers David Lopez and Vasil Kiryienka will also line-up in black and blue on the start line in Corsica on June 29, while Belarusian Kantanstin Siutsou will provide the power at the front of the peloton.
Tour de France 2013: Team tracker >>
SKY TOUR DE FRANCE 2013 TEAM
Chris Froome
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Age: 28 Nationality: British
Number of Tours completed: 2 out of 2
Best performance: Second overall and stage win, 2012
Wins in 2013: Overall and stage, Tour of Oman. Stage, Tirreno-Adriatico. Overall and stage, Critérium International. Overall and stage, Tour of Romandy. Overall and and stage, Critérium du Dauphiné
Richie Porte
Age: 28 Nationality: Australian
Number of Tours completed: 2 out of 2
Best performance: 34th overall, 2012
Raced with Froome in 2013 at: Tour of Oman, Critérium International, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Tour of Romandy, Critérium du Dauphiné
Geraint Thomas
Age: 27 Nationality: British
Number of Tours completed: 3 out of 3
Best performance: 31st overall, 2011
Raced with Froome in 2013 at: Critérium du Dauphiné
Edvald Boasson Hagen
Age: 26 Nationality: Norwegian
Number of Tours completed: 3 out of 3
Best performance: 52nd overall and two stage wins, 2011
Raced with Froome in 2013 at: Critérium du Dauphiné
David Lopez
Age: 32 Nationality: Spanish
Number of Tours completed: 1 out of 2
Best performance: 48th overall, 2006
Raced with Froome in 2013 at: Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Tour of Romandy, Critérium du Dauphiné
Vasil Kiryienka
Age: 31 Nationality: Belarusian
Number of Tours completed: 2 out of 3
Best performance: 59th overall, 2010
Raced with Froome in 2013 at: Tour of Oman, Critérium International, Liège-Bastogne-Liège, Tour of Romandy, Critérium du Dauphiné
Kanstantsin Siutsou
Age: 30 Nationality: Belarusian
Number of Tours completed: 3 out of 4
Best performance: 16th overall, 2008
Raced with Froome in 2013 at: Critérium International
Ian Stannard
Age: 26 Nationality: British
Number of Tours completed: N/A
Best performance: N/A
Raced with Froome in 2013 at: Critérium du Dauphiné
Peter Kennaugh
Age: 23 Nationality: British
Number of Tours completed: N/A
Best performance: N/A
Raced with Froome in 2013 at: Tour of Oman, Tirreno-Adriatico, Tour of Romandy, Critérium du Dauphiné
Related links
Tour de France 2013: Cycling Weekly's coverage index
Tour de France 2013: Team tracker - squad rosters as they are announced
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Nick Bull is an NCTJ qualified journalist who has written for a range of titles, as well as being a freelance writer at Beat Media Group, which provides reports for the PA Media wire which is circulated to the likes of the BBC and Eurosport. His work at Cycling Weekly predominantly dealt with professional cycling, and he now holds a role as PR & Digital Manager at SweetSpot Group, which organises the Tour of Britain.
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