Team Sky Unveil Froome's Support Squad

Chris Froome's attempt to win the Tour de France will be supported by a Team Sky squad of climbers, cobbles experts and time-triallists, team principal Sir Dave Brailsford has revealed.

The three-week race, which takes place from 4-26 July, is set to be fought out in three key areas - the mountains, a cobbled fourth stage and a team time trial on stage nine - and Team Sky have consequently surrounded leader Froome with specialists in each of them.

The nine team members are Froome (GB), Richie Porte (Aus), Geraint Thomas (GB), Peter Kennaugh (GB), Ian Stannard (GB), Luke Rowe (GB), Nicolas Roche (Irl), Leopold Konig (Cze) and Wout Poels (Ned).

Porte, Roche, Konig and Poels are all pure climbers who will aim to set Froome up on the Tour's six mountain-top finishes, while Thomas, Stannard and Rowe are all one-day classics riders who will look to usher Froome safely through the potentially treacherous 13.3km of cobbled roads on stage four.

Porte, Thomas, Konig and Stannard are all also adept time-triallists who will add power to Team Sky's challenge on the 28km team time trial at the end of the race's first week, while Kennaugh, who retained the British national road race title on Sunday, is an all-rounder who will prove useful on a variety of terrain.

Another defining characteristic of the team is its six-strong British and Irish contingent, which is the highest the team has ever fielded at the world's most prestigious race, two more than 2013's previous best of four.

Brailsford said: "We've studied this year's route carefully and have selected the riders who we believe will best deliver our race strategy. Inevitably it is always a difficult decision. We're all looking forward to a great race and we have a strong team, led by Chris Froome, that's hungry for success.

"I'm confident that Team Sky will be competitive, but of course, we can take nothing for granted. One thing we can say for certain is that it's going to be a great contest and a great three weeks of racing for the fans. That is fantastic for the sport of cycling."

Froome is looking to win the Tour for the second time in his career and make amends for last year's race, when he crashed out on stage five.

He said: "Last year's disappointment is this year's motivation for Team Sky. From the moment I crashed out in 2014, I've had the burning desire to get back to this year's Tour in the best possible shape.

"I'm ready and I'm fortunate to have a strong team around me selected to meet the many different challenges of this year's race, from the cobbles to the climbs.

"There's a great spirit in the group and we're ready to give our best for every kilometre of every day over the three weeks of the Tour."