Team Sky accidentally reveal their Tour de France shortlist, with five Brits included
Chris Froome and Geraint Thomas lead the list of five British riders named in Team Sky's 11-man Tour de France squad, but the team say the list is incomplete
Team Sky claim the 11-man shortlist for the Tour de France, published on their website on Tuesday, is not the final squad.
The team named five British riders in its 11-man Tour de France squad, which will be narrowed down to nine riders before the Grand Départ on July 4, but there was no mention of Irish duo Nicolas Roche and Philip Deignan.
Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, Ian Stannard, Peter Kennaugh and Luke Rowe all featured after strong starts to the 2015 season, with all five strong contenders to be in the final team.
Alongside the Brits were Danny Pate, Mikel Nieve, Leopold König, Richie Porte, Sergio Henao and Wout Poels.
>>> UCI bans Tour de France motorhomes, much to Chris Froome’s displeasure
If the list turns out to be correct, Porte, König and Nieve are in line to ride their second consecutive Grand Tour, having competed at the Giro d'Italia in May. When Porte abandoned the race after stage 16, König went on to finish sixth overall.
The former Netapp-Endura impressed with a seventh-place finish for the Pro Continental team at the Tour de France in 2014, but will ride in support of Froome if selected this year.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
>>> Your guide to the 2015 Tour de France in Utrecht (video)
Deignan and Roche were given a reprieve when the list of riders was taken down from the Team Sky website shortly after it was published.
Four of the original 11-man list, Porte, Kennaugh, Stannard and Thomas, rode alongside Froome in his 2013 victory in the Tour de France, while Porte and Froome are the only surviving members from Bradley Wiggins's win the year before.
The team plan to announce the final nine riders on Monday.
Cycling Weekly's panel of experts discuss the opening time trial at the 2015 Tour de France
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
Stuart Clarke is a News Associates trained journalist who has worked for the likes of the British Olympic Associate, British Rowing and the England and Wales Cricket Board, and of course Cycling Weekly. His work at Cycling Weekly has focused upon professional racing, following the World Tour races and its characters.
-
Calling all women sports photographers - a $50K scholarship is up for grabs from Peak Design and The Roam Collective
Peak Design and The Roam Collective have partnered to offer the Roam Media Core Scholarship, which provides up-and-coming U.S.-based femme sports creatives with funding and industry connections.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
I don't care if you're doing efforts – all cyclists should wave to each other on their rides
Solidarity between cyclists is one of the nicest things about being on two wheels. Why do some people eschew it?
By Adam Becket Published
-
Giro d'Italia 2024 contenders: Can anyone stop Tadej Pogačar?
The Slovenian is the outright favourite for overall victory but there are plenty of other riders capable of having a say on the start line
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Giro d'Italia 2024 start list: Biniam Girmay leads Intermarché-Wanty, Kaden Groves for Alpecin-Deceuninck
All the teams and riders for the 107th Giro d'Italia
By Adam Becket Last updated
-
'It was one of the hardest days of my life' - Rain and cold lay waste to Tour of the Alps
Juanpe López takes stage three victory, while Geraint Thomas finishes three minutes down in inclement Austrian weather
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'It was time to change': No regrets for Rod Ellingworth after leaving Ineos Grenadiers
New Tour of Britain race director says he is still on good terms with Dave Brailsford after resigning from team last year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I’m just here to enjoy it': Tom Pidcock on his surprise Paris-Roubaix appearance
British rider was a late addition to the Ineos Grenadiers team for the race across the pavé
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
The art of peaking with Geraint Thomas: 'It’s easy to take for granted that 9 times out of 10 I hit my goals'
The Welshman also calls for better governance in the sport to help it grow further
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers’ 500th victory was claimed by a woman; why do they still not have a team?
The British squad is one of the richest in cycling - but Ineos still won’t stump up for a women’s team
By Adam Becket Published
-
'This is so much more than a number': Six of the best Ineos Grenadiers wins as team claims 500th race victory
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot took the 500th team win at the weekend
By Tom Thewlis Published