Ireland's Philip Deignan will be in action for Team Sky alongside leader Chris Froome. They are in the same line-up in the most troubled period of Froome's career.
Philip Deignan set for Ruta del Sol with Chris Froome
Philip Deignan continues his 2018 season tomorrow when he rides the Ruta del Sol in the same line-up as Chris Froome.
The 34-year-old Donegal man has already raced this season. He contested four races in the Challenge Mallorca week.
He was 19th in the Trofeo Serra de Tramuntana (1.1), riding well on a day when most of the field abandoned.
Deignan is now in his 14th season as a professional cyclist. And this is his fifth campaign with Team Sky.
The Ruta del Sol features four road stages and a concluding 14.2km TT. As usual with Team Sky, Froome will be the leader and all of the other riders' efforts will be based on supporting him.
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Tomorrow's opening stage to Granada features six climbs, reaching a maximum altitude of just over 1,000 metres.
The 140km stage 2 to La Guardia de Jaén features a summit finish. The final Alto de Allanadas climb to the finish is 5.5km but it is steep.
It hits 21 per cent at points and averages 12 per cent in the last 2km.
Stage 3 is a flatter 165km to Herrera. The final road stage is 191km to Alcalá de los Gazules, with two testing ascents midway.
It also finishes with a short - less than 2km - steep climb that features some cobbles.
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And the short stage 5 TT on Sunday is flat and will be contested at full gas by only the general classification men and TT specialists targeting a result on the day.
Froome last rode this race in 2015; winning when supported by a very strong Nicolas Roche.
Normally the Ruta del Sol would be an ideal opportunity for Froome to test his fitness and gain a confidence-boosting result.
However, following an adverse dope test result for asthma drug salbutamol Froome is under extreme pressure.
Many in pro cycling believe the team should withdraw him from racing until the matter is resolved either way.
But the team, and Froome, have decided to try to carry on with his race programme as normal.
Furthermore, the reception he will get from the media, and fans by the roadside, is unknown.
From Deignan's perspective, only Froome and team principal Dave Brailsford have become caught up in the salbutamol controversy.
As a result, the Irishman will look to get on with his job and leave the eye of the storm to others in the team.
We will also be in action at the Ruta del Sol. Here's our lineup for #64RdS:
?? @iamdlax
?? @PhilipDeignan
?? @chrisfroome
?? @ChristianKnees
?? @WoutPoels
?? @SalvatorePuccio
?? @DylanvanBaarle pic.twitter.com/WTDASv4NTn— Team Sky (@TeamSky) February 9, 2018
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