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
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- (opens in new tab)
- Sign up to our newsletter Newsletter

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.
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 10 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.
-
-
The Specialized Sale - we pick our four favorite deals in the US and UK
From helmets to electric road bikes, we highlight some serious savings in Specialized's current sale
By Luke Friend • Published
-
Bikes of the Atlas Mountain Race 2023: from comfort gravellers to speed weapons, here’s what caught our eye
Covering 1,300km / 800mi of Morocco’s gravel roads and mountain passes, the Atlas Mountain Race demands a tech-heavy approach for its 3+ days of bikepacking racing
By Stefan Abram • Published
-
Global backers in talks over new British WorldTour team
Former management of Ribble Weldtite courting interest in new project
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'I remember the crowds more than anything': Tom Pidcock recalls his Alpe d'Huez Tour de France stage win
Our male rider of the year, Tom Pidcock, talks us through the highs and lows of his 2022 campaign
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Leo Hayter, Cycling Weekly's rising star of 2022, talks through his season in the spotlight
We caught up with the winner of the "Baby Giro" to hear all about the win in Italy and his dream move to Ineos Grenadiers
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers release 'visibly fast' 2023 jersey
Navy is replaced with red as British team changes its look
By Adam Becket • Published
-
Where next for Mark Cavendish after B & B Hotels-KTM's collapse?
We look at where the ‘Manx Missile’ could find himself next after the collapse of B & B Hotels-KTM
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
‘It’s a good thing and shows progression of the sport’ - Ben Swift hails changes at British Cycling academy
Ineos Grenadier says putting academy riders in with development teams will encourage development of many skills
By Tom Thewlis • Published
-
'I know I can do it so I need to make that next level': Ben Turner signs Ineos Grenadiers contract extension
The Classics and another Grand Tour are on the agenda for Doncaster's Big Ben
By Chris Marshall-Bell • Published
-
Tom Pidcock unsure whether he will defend cyclocross world title in 2023
“I don’t know yet, crossing in the winter and being good in the classics is a difficult combination” Pidcock said
By Tom Thewlis • Published