Team Sky reveal the eight riders who will support Chris Froome at the Tour de France
Strong line-up to support Froome in his search for a fourth Tour triumph

Team Sky have announced their squad for the Tour de France, with Chris Froome supported by a strong team including Geraint Thomas, but with no place for Ian Stannard or Wout Poels.
The team will be hoping to pick up their fifth Tour de France title in six years after Bradley Wiggins took Britain's first Tour win in 2012, followed by Chris Froome's victories in 2013, 2015, and 2016.
>>> Read more: Tour de France 2017 Start List
However Froome will head into the Tour having not won a race so far this season, the first time that he has made it this far into a season without a win since 2012.
>>> 'Chris Froome's not the same rider he was in the last few years, but he's still the man to beat'
He rode aggressively at the recent Critérium du Dauphiné, but eventually finished a slightly disappointing fourth in race which he has won before each of his previous Tour triumphs.
If Froome finds himself short of form or suffers a crash or major time loss, then the team could turn to Geraint Thomas as a back-up leader.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The Welshman was meant to lead the team at the Giro d'Italia, but was forced to abandon from injuries sustained from a crash with a motorbike on stage nine.
Watch: Tour de France 2017 contenders - Chris Froome
Alongside Thomas, there are four other riders who will be dedicated to supporting Froome in the high mountains.
Mikel Landa will come to France having won the mountains classification at the Giro, while Sergio Henao and Mikel Nieve have both played vital parts in Froome's previous Tour triumphs.
Vasil Kiryienka and Michal Kwiatkowski are two of the most versatile riders on the team, and should be able to stay alongside their team leader deep into mountain stages, but also hold their own close to the front of the peloton on nervous flat stages
The remaining riders on the team are Christian Knees and Luke Rowe who are likely to be used early in mountain stages, but have mainly earned their places in the team for their ability to keep Froome out of trouble on flat stages, especially nervous days in the first week where fighting for position will be vital.
Surprisingly there is no place for either Ian Stannard or Wout Poels in the Team Sky Tour de France squad, the first time either rider will not be in the race since 2014.
Poels has been suffering from a knee injury since crashing at the Ruta del Sol in February, only returning to action at the Route du Sud last week.
However Stannard has had no known injury problems this season. He abandoned the Critérium du Dauphiné on stage five but finished the Route du Sud.
The Tour de France starts on July 1 with a 14km individual time trial on the streets of Düsseldorf.
Team Sky Tour de France team
Chris Froome
Sergio Henao
Christian Knees
Vasil Kiryienka
Michal Kwiatkowski
Mikel Landa
Mikel Nieve
Luke Rowe
Geraint Thomas
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Henry Robertshaw began his time at Cycling Weekly working with the tech team, writing reviews, buying guides and appearing in videos advising on how to dress for the seasons. He later moved over to the news team, where his work focused on the professional peloton as well as legislation and provision for cycling. He's since moved his career in a new direction, with a role at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.
-
Tom Pidcock’s Q36.5 receive Giro d’Italia wildcard invite along with Tudor Pro Cycling
Team Polti Visit Malta and VF Group BardianiCSF - Faizane also receive invitations from RCS
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Be seen all year round with 35% off Magicshine bike lights in the Amazon Big Spring Sale
This is your last chance to seize a deal on some of the best bike lights with daylight running features. Act fast, as the sale ends at midnight tonight
By Matt Ischt-Barnard Published
-
'An unprecedented opportunity for brands to be part of the evolution' - Ineos Grenadiers sponsor hunt steps up with sales agency partnership
Sportfive have been employed to find "non-endemic global partners for the team"
By Adam Becket Published
-
'We've all got a little bit extra in us this year' - Ineos Grenadiers recapture 'fighting spirit' with aggressive Paris-Nice display
British team continue to put tumultuous 2024 behind them with momentum and a new found mentality
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Could a TotalEnergies deal be the end of Ineos Grenadiers as we know them?
Reports suggested this week that Ineos could be close to signing a deal with the French petrochemical firm
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'They’re racing with their hearts again' - Robbie McEwen on Ineos Grenadiers' bright start to 2025
The British squad have already won four times in 2025
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers are entertaining so far this year, but how long will it last?
The British WorldTour squad have won four times already in 2025, but more than that, they have been fun. Is this the new dawn?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Caleb Ewan says he was put in a 'bad situation' by Jayco AlUla before he joined Ineos Grenadiers
Ewan joined Ineos Grenadiers in January after spending just one year with Jayco AlUla
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'There's no bull****, that's what I've always liked' - Geraint Thomas's first BC coach Rod Ellingworth on the retiring Welshman
The 2018 Tour de France winner will step away from professional cycling at the end of the season
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'It is time to change goals' - Egan Bernal's coach confirms Ineos Grenadiers exit
'I want to thank all the cyclists I have had the opportunity to coach over the past ten years' Xabier Artetxe says in LinkedIn post
By Tom Thewlis Published