Chris Froome confirmed for RideLondon-Surrey Classic

Chris Froome (Team Sky) has been confirmed for the 2016 Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic road race on Sunday, July 31. Froome won his third Tour de France overall in Paris on Sunday.

Froome will join Sky team-mates Geraint Thomas, Ian Stannard, Ben Swift, Christian Knees and Danny Van Poppel in the one-day race that broadly follows the route of the 2012 Olympic road race.

Froome, Thomas and Stannard will use the race as a key warm-up event for the 2016 Olympic Games road race in Rio de Janerio on August 6. The Sky trio join Tour stage winner Steve Cummings and best young rider Adam Yates in Rio, in what must rank as one of Britain's strongest men's road race Olympic teams ever assembled. Cummings will also take part in RideLondon with his Dimension Data team.

“We are thrilled to have Tour de France champion Chris Froome riding for Team Sky at this year’s Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic," said race director Mick Bennett.

“His performance over the last three weeks has enthralled the country and we are proud Chris has chosen the Classic as his last race before Rio. Now British fans have the chance to watch him in action and cheer on the man who has achieved the incredible feat of three Tour de France wins. We expect thousands to come out and line the streets of London and Surrey.

Bennett continued: "In addition to Chris, Team Sky is also bringing Geraint Thomas and Ian Stannard, proven winners in their own right, and with Steve Cummings (Dimension Data) also in the field, it means that four of Team GB’s five road racers for Rio are racing on Sunday.

“We have an incredible field and are set for a truly Classic race. I can’t wait for Sunday.”

Sky are among seven WorldTour teams taking part in this year's UCI 1.HC-ranked Prudential RideLondon-Surrey Classic. Among the other main contenders are Tour final stage winner André Greipel (Lotto-Soudal) and stage 10 winner Michael Matthews (Orica-BikeExchange).

The 200km race starts on Horse Guards Parade in London, then travels south into the Surrey Hills, taking in Leith Hill and Box Hill, and then goes back north to conclude on The Mall in London. Last year's race was won by BMC's Jean-Pierre Drucker, who will return as defending champion.