Team Sky has named its roster for the Vuelta and the line-up includes neither Philip Deignan, above, nor Nicolas Roche, who is ill (Photo: Sirotti)
Having not raced since he withdrew from the Giro d’Italia in May, Philip Deignan’s absence from the pro peloton continues with the Irish rider not named in Team Sky’s Vuelta squad.
Nicolas Roche had already been ruled out of the race with illness; the team announcing the Irish rider had fallen ill after the Rio Olympics.
Currently battling what Team Sky called severe bacterial pneumonia, it is a disappointing end to Roche’s tenure with Team Sky.
The Vuelta had always suited him and he took a stage and led the race for a day two years ago. But his withdrawal means we have seen him in his final Grand Tour for Team Sky as he is destined for BMC Racing Team in the off season.
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However, the reason for Deignan’s absence from the pro bunch since the Giro is unclear.
And any hope that would come to an end and he would be back racing again in the Vuelta – where he has won a stage in the past – were shot down when Team Sky revealed its line-up for the three week race starting this weekend.
In the team are: Chris Froome, Ian Boswell, Michal Golas, Pete Kennaugh. Christian Knees, Leopold König, Michal Kwiatkowski, Mikel Landa and Salvatore Puccio.
Deignan last raced back on May 27th when he abandoned the Giro on stage 19, with just two stages remaining in the race.
The mountain stage he failed to finish took the riders 244km from Pinerolo to Risoul, and included the highest point of this year’s race at Colle d'Angelo.
Deignan, now aged 32 years, has another season to run on his contract with Team Sky next year.
He is due to marry fiancée Lizzie Armitstead, the reigning road race world champion, later in the year.
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