Sergio Henao will lead Team Sky at the Tour of California as the British squad look to defend the title won by Sir Bradley Wiggins last year
Team Sky go into the Amgen Tour of California as defending champions and Colombian Sergio Henao is the man trusted to lead them to glory once more.
Henao is still on the comeback trail from an horrific knee injury, but has started his season remarkably strongly considering, finishing second to Joaquim Rodriguez at the Tour of the Basque Country and two top-10 finishes in the Ardennes Classics.
The 27-year-old climber will hope to be a force in the mountain stages, including stage seven’s summit finish to Mount Baldy, where the overall winner will likely be decided.
In support, Henao will have two Americans in the form of Danny Pate and Ian Boswell as well as Spanish domestique Xabier Zandio. Philip Deignan comes off a good performance in the Tour de Yorkshire, while Brit Peter Kennaugh continues his return to fitness from an injury of his own.
Christian Knees and Nathan Earle round out the eight-man lineup for the race which starts in Sacremento on May 10.
Team Sky squad for Amgen Tour of California
Sergio Henao, Ian Boswell, Danny Pate, Xabier Zandio, Peter Kennaugh, Philip Deignan, Christian Knees, Nathan Earle