CAVENDISH AND HAMMOND IN T-MOBILE'S FINAL 13

Both Mark Cavendish and Roger Hammond have been named in T-Mobile's preliminary Tour team today. The German team named 13 riders in a press release including the two Brits, from which the final nine will eventually be selected.

The team is set to name the final squad after the Tour of Switzerland that finishes this Sunday. Michael Rogers, the team's rider for the Tour overall, pulled out of the Swiss race today, and the team have always said that if they don't have an overall contender they can get to Paris in a high position, they will go for stage wins instead.

This tactic is likely to see Hammond get his first ever start in the Tour. Cavendish has forced himself in to contention after five wins in his first year as a pro. The sprinter from the Isle of Man has been a sensation this year, but if he starts in London, he'll only be expected to ride the first ten days.

The T-Mobile 13 is: Lorenzo Bernucci, Marcus Burghardt, Mark Cavendish, Bernhard Eisel, Andreas Klier, Linus Gerdemann, Bert Grabsch, Giuseppe Guerini, Roger Hammond, Kim Kirchen, Axel Merckx, Michael Rogers and Patrik Sinkewitz.