Team Sky has accidentally published a piece on its website with a list presented as its Tour de France line-up. But then it insisted the list was not complete, despite containing 11 names, with nine-man teams riding the Tour. The names of Nicolas Roche, above, and Philip Deignan were not included (Photo: Sirotti)
Team Sky has accidentally published an item on its website today containing a list of riders’ names presented as its selection for the Tour de France.
The team apparently published the list accidentally and took it down from the site very quickly, insisting that it was incomplete.
The bad news for Irish fans is that neither Philip Deignan nor Nicolas Roche was included; though it must be stressed it is unclear if the list published is the final team for the race.
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Chris Froome, Geraint Thomas, Ian Stannard, Peter Kennaugh and Luke Rowe, were all included.
It means more than half of the line-up would be British for the three week encounter starting on Saturday week, July 4th, if they all made the cut and the published list proves to contain the final Tour team.
Alongside the British athletes, also named were Danny Pate, Mikel Nieve, Leopold König, Richie Porte, Sergio Henao and Wout Poels.
The team has insisted the line-up was not yet completed, giving the impression that deliberations were still continuing.
There are 11 names included, with only nine permitted per team in the race so clearly the list is not the final line-up.
Philip Deignan has done Trojan work for Team Sky to date this season and throughout last year. Many feel he is worthy of his first ride in the Tour this time around more so than ever (Photo: Sirotti)
However, Team Sky had said in recent days it would name its team around now and it is difficult to see how a list claiming to be the Tour team ended up on the squad’s own website if it bears no resemblance at all to the final line-up.
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Speculation has mounted on social media that the list is the shortlist from which the nine final names will be selected.
However, those comments are purely speculative and the Sky's final Tour line-up will only be confirmed when the team reveals it officially.
Deignan has never ridden the Tour de France though has ridden both the Giro d’Italia and the Vuelta several times; both in the colours of Team Sky last year when he excelled.
He has turned into one of the very best climbing domestiques in the world in the past 18 months and his omission from the squad would be a major disappointment for himself and Irish fans.
Roche has spoken a number of times about riding the Tour de France this year; outlining his hopes that Froome will win the race while he is supporting him.
When he was brought into Team Sky in the off season, the squad suggested he was being signed mainly to assist its Grand Tour efforts, with a particular focus on the Tour.
He would be bitterly disappointed if he misses out; though whether he will ride still remains unclear.
He told stickybottle just the week before last that he was skipping the National Road Championships in Omagh this week in favour of focusing on his preparations for the Tour.
Irish fans, not to mention the riders themselves, will be hoping the accidental publication by Team Sky was a pre prepared press release which was always going to be subject to change - a practice not uncommon - rather than a shortlist to be whittled down.
The full and final list was expected to be released as early as today, though no specific date was fixed.
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