LONDON, June 24, 2010 – British cycling ace Bradley Wiggins will as expected lead Team Sky’s maiden Tour de France challenge after the team was announced on Thursday for the race which gets underway in Rotterdam on July 3 and finishes in Paris on July 25.
The 30-year-old two-time Olympic track gold medalist will be aiming to improve on his stunning fourth in last year’s edition.
Wiggins will be joined by two other British riders Geraint Thomas – a member of the victorious Olympic team pursuit quartet with Wiggins in 2008 – and former Commonwealth and world track champion Steve Cummings in the nine man team for cycling’s most prestigious race.
“It’s every bike rider’s dream, my dream, to go to the Tour,” said Cummings.
“I’m very excited, but I’m there to go and do a job, support the team and support Bradley and take opportunities for myself if they come up.
“I will stay around him and support him and make sure he has what he needs to do his job as well as he can.
“It’s not just me, it’s the whole team. We’ve all got to do a job and look after him and put him in the best position to do his job.”
Spaniard Alberto Contador won last year’s Tour de France and is back to defend his title this year with the Astana team, along with seven-time champion Lance Armstrong and his RadioShack outfit.
Team
Michael Barry (CAN), Steve Cummings (GBR), Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP), Simon Gerrans (AUS), Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR), Thomas Löfkvist (SWE), Serge Pauwels (BEL), Geraint Thomas (GBR), Bradley Wiggins (GBR)
Article: AFP