Philip Deignan named in superb Team Sky Dauphiné selection
Philip Deignan's inclusion in Team Sky's crack line-up for the Critérium du Dauphiné will inevitably raise hopes of his riding the Tour de France next month.
Having just finished the Giro d'Italia and really imposed himself, especially in the mountainous final week, there is no rest for Irish cyclist Philip Deignan.
The Donegal man is named in Team Sky's line-up for the Critérium du Dauphiné.
He is part of a really quality line-up for what is traditionally the Tour de France tune-up event.
The team will be headed by Chris Froome who won last year's edition from Romain Bardet (Ag2r La Mondiale) and Irish cyclist Dan Martin (QuickStep).
Froome then went on to win the Tour de France. However, while few would bet against him doing the same this year, his results have been below par so far.
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He has not won a race since taking the stage 19 TT at the Vuelta last September, on his way to 2nd overall behind Nairo Quintana (Movistar).
In the three stage races Froome has ridden since the start of the season, he has not troubled the podium.
He was 6th overall in the Herald Sun Tour (2.1) back in February. Froome won the race last year, as well as the climbers’ classification and the final stage.
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In March he was 30th in the Volta Ciclista a Catalunya (2.UWT). Last year he was 8th overall.
And in his most recent outing, at the Tour de Romandie (2.UWT), he was 18th. In 2016 could only manage 38th but did win the summit finish stage 4.
However, his season really only starts now, with the Tour his big goal. The Critérium du Dauphiné is a stepping stone towards the podium in Paris in late July.
He has won the Tour three times; the past two seasons and in 2013. And on each of those occasions he claimed the Dauphiné first.
He will be supported by an excellent team in the eight-stage race beginning on Sunday, June 4th.
On the basis of how he rode in the last week of the Giro, repeatedly getting in the breakaways and driving them for Mikel Landa, Deignan will be one of the strongest in the line-up.
Philip Deignan and Tour de France
He has only ever ridden the Dauphiné once in the past, in 2015. His inclusion in this year's line-up is a vote of confidence in him after his Giro ride.
And it may point to his being included in the Tour de France line-up, though that is unclear as yet.
Alongside the Irishman and Briton Froome at the Dauphiné will be Pete Kennaugh, Christian Knees, Michal Kwiatkowski, David Lopez, Luke Rowe and Ian Stannard.
With a 23.5km rolly stage 4 TT and a summit finish stage 8 on Alpe d'Huez, it looks made for Froome.
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