LONDON, Sept 9, 2009 (AFP) – Olympic gold medal winner Geraint Thomas is one of six British riders who will join new professional cycling squad Team Sky next season, the team confirmed on Wednesday.

More riders are set to be announced on Thursday, with speculation that British star Bradley Wiggins could be among them.

Thomas, 23, was the youngest rider in the 2007 Tour de France and won team pursuit gold in Beijing alongside Wiggins, who finished fourth in July’s Tour.

The team expect to take part in the Tour de France next year, with the aim of securing victory by 2014.

Thomas is among the first riders announced by Team Sky, alongside Barloworld team-mates Steve Cummings and Chris Froome as well as Tour of Ireland champion Russell Downing, Ian Stannard and Peter Kennaugh.

The six recruits are the first names of a 25-strong squad to be confirmed by Team Sky, the British-look road team backed by satellite broadcasting giant BSkyB.

British Cycling performance director Dave Brailsford will oversee team affairs, at the top of a management and coaching system integrated into the already highly successful British Cycling track and academy programs.

Brailsford said: “In the coming weeks and months they will be joined by other riders, from Britain and overseas.

“We will announce their new team-mates as and when we are able to.

“In the meantime, we will continue to respect all riders’ arrangements with existing teams and only comment on the riders we have signed, as and when we do.”