Wiggins' withdrawal Chris Froome will be supported by a well-balanced Team Sky

A Story by moxiaoxiao

The 24-year-old Isle of Man rider will make his first appearance in the middle of the cycle race this summer and is a part of four Britons in the team, along with fellow rookie Ian Stannard, Geraint Thomas and Chris Froome race favorite.

Selection Kennaugh came on the back of a show stand-out at the Criterium du Dauphine earlier this month that Froome won, and comes a year before his own program.

He finished second in the Tour last year because of tight competition with Wiggins. This year will be solely responsible Froome of Team Sky after Olympic champion chrono out the 100th edition of the race due to health problems. The tour begins June 29 in Corsica.

"I'm happy with the balance in the team and each of these pilots will play a central role once the race starts," said Froome. "Most of us were in the Criterium du Dauphine and I was extremely impressed by this the way the team came together in controlling the mesh. Gave me great confidence and I could not be happier with the selection."

Despite Wiggins' withdrawal, the Sky lineup of nine riders announced on Thursday is still impressive, mixing experienced riders capable of helping Froome in high mountains and others in charge of protecting him on the flat stages.

Froome is the favorite tour after an impressive season with victories in the Tour of Oman, the Criterium International, the Tour de Romandie and Criterium du Dauphine. It will be the star of a team with eight cyclists Sky went along with the Dauphiné, when he beat his teammate Richie Porte Froome.

"All the work I've done over the winter from January, the entire race training and hard to finally get harvest is good and I can not wait to go on."

Even without Wiggins, Sky has been so dominant this season that the British squad can hope for another 1-2 finish in the grueling three-week race, led by Froome and Porte. The 28-year-old Porte won Paris-Nice in February and the Australian climber's strength was obvious during the Dauphine.

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