Team Sky’s Chris Froome is hoping to win the Giro but there have been some changes to the line-up just before the race. And while Philip Deignan was expected to ride, he is not in the confirmed line-up released this afternoon.
Philip Deignan omitted from Team Sky Giro line-up
Irish cyclist Philip Deignan has been omitted from Team Sky’s line-up for the Giro d’Italia. The Donegal man was expected to ride the race.
However, the British WorldTour team has named its line-up for the race today and Deignan’s name is not on the team sheet.
Ireland is expected to have three others in the race; Ryan Mullen, Nicolas Roche and Sam Bennett. All three are stage win contenders for their respective trade team.
At Team Sky, Chris Froome leads the squad for the Italian Grand Tour. He is still racing under a cloud because of his adverse salbutamol test at last year’s Vuelta.
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He is joined in the Giro line-up by David de la Cruz, Kenny Elissonde and Sergio Henao. Also picked is Vasil Kiryienka, Christian Knees, Wout Poels and Salvatore Puccio.
The racing gets underway next Friday with a 9.7km TT. Froome will be riding the race for the first time since 2010.
And if he were to win he would hold all three Grand Tour titles at the same time.
“I have always enjoyed racing in Italy and it has been great riding Tour of the Alps and Tirreno-Adriatico this year,” he said.
“The Giro is special and full of history, and I am looking forward to racing it again after almost a decade.
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“I’ve had a different start to the season as I’ve obviously been aiming to try and reach my peak quite a bit earlier than usual.
“Of course there is an element of risk involved in targeting the Giro before the Tour. But I think I would regret it for the rest of my life if I didn’t give this race a go.
“I also recognise the wider issues and as I have said before I am doing everything I can, together with the Team, to help resolve them as quickly as possible.
“In the meantime I am focussed on racing. I would love to win the maglia rosa. But I am under no illusions whatsoever about how hard the race will be.”
Team Sky looking for overall win
Team Sky principal Dave Brailsford said the team had never won the Giro. He was hopeful that missing victory would come this time around.
“We have been on the podium before but have never won the maglia rosa which is a great ambition for us,” he said.
“Chris is also going for a third consecutive Grand Tour. Everyone in cycling knows just how tough that is.
“We have a strong, talented and versatile team supporting him. Every rider will have an important contribution to make.
“This year’s race promises to be a very tough edition with some of the hardest mountain climbs in cycling including Mount Etna and the Zoncolan.
“It should make for a great spectacle for the fans. It all provides an added incentive for us going into the race.”
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