Irish cyclist Philip Deignan set for career-tenth Grand Tour
Philip Deignan will go into his tenth Grand Tour as part of a Team Sky line-up looking to win the race.
Irish cyclist Philip Deignan is set for a career-tenth Grand Tour start when he lines out in the Giro d’Italia on Friday.
The Donegal man, aged 33 years, is named in a strong Team Sky line-up. And thought Chris Froome’s name is not on the list, it looks capable of winning the race.
Mikel Landa and Geraint Thomas are the leaders of the team. And Deignan will ride in support of both.
Also named in the squad are Kenny Elissonde, Michal Golas, Sebastian Henao, Vasil Kiryienka, Salvatore Puccio and Diego Rosa.
Thomas, in particular, could be on the cusp of something big. He has ridden in support of Froome and Bradley Wiggins many times in the past.
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But now aged 30 years and having just won the Tour of the Alps he looks ready. If he is going to win a Grand Tour during his career it must come in the next couple of seasons.
And in Irish rider Deignan he has a very strong climber with the staying power for the testing final week of his 100th edition.
Deignan has proven very capable in the past in both the Giro and the Vuelta; winning a stage in the latter back in 2009.
He was also 9th overall in the Vuelta that year, his best result of the nine Grand Tours he has started.
He was ridden the Giro five times and the Vuelta on four occasions. Deignan is yet to ride the Tour de France.
His first Grand Tour came at the Vuelta in 2007 when he was 71st overall.
His next appearance in that race was his best ride, in 2009. The following year he failed to finish the event. And he was 39th in it in 2014.
He began his Giro career in 2008, when he was 79th, and he was 56th the following year.
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Philip Deignan rode it again in 2011, when he was 47th, and he was 43rd in 2014. Last year he started the race but withdrew with just two stages remaining.
The 33-year-old will obviously see his chances limited this year due to team duties. But he may still get his chance to aim for a personal result.
Philip Deignan winning stage 18 of the Vuelta in 2009, when he waa also 9th overall in the race.
Under pressure Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford said the team had prepared and was ready to impose itself.
“Our focus for the race will be to compete on GC,” he said.
“In Mikel Landa and Geraint Thomas we’re coming into the race with two key riders who will be trying to achieve that.
“We’ve looked at the challenges this edition of the Giro presents and picked a team which we believe can fully support both of our leaders.
"The last week of this Giro will be particularly demanding. And the severity of those stages will be determining factors.
"So making sure we have climbing support in the high mountains has been a key consideration.”
Philip Deignan to support Geraint Thomas
Thomas sounded equally bullish about the team’s chances over the three-week event.
“My preparation has gone really well and I’m ready. I can’t wait to get there now,” he said.
“The Tour of the Alps was my last race before the Giro and so to win there was obviously a boost to my morale.
“I know it’s going to be a really strong field at the Giro and it will be a tough, unpredictable race. But I’m looking forward to it.”
The race starts on Friday with an opening stage of 206km in Sardinia.
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