Team Sky has confirmed its squad for the 99th edition of the Giro d’Italia, which starts in Apeldoorn, Holland on Friday and concludes in Turin on Sunday 29 May.
Team Sky’s bid for the pink jersey will be led by Mikel Landa, with Ian Boswell, Philip Deignan, Sebastian Henao, Christian Knees, David Lopez, Nicolas Roche, Mikel Nieve and home favourite Elia Viviani joining him in the nine-man squad.
Mikel Landa said: “The Giro d’Italia is my first big goal of the season and I’m proud to go there as leader of Team Sky. I feel like I’m coming into really good form and I’m confident I can perform well.
“As usual the Giro will be a really tough race but we have a strong team and we’re ready for it”
Team Principal Dave Brailsford, said that the team was going into the first Grand Tour of the year “full of confidence”.
“Mikel Landa will lead our Giro d’Italia team. He has fitted in to the team brilliantly and is coming into top form just at the right time. He will be supported by a strong, experienced and fully committed group of riders around him.
“Mikel and the team are in great shape and they are ready for the challenge.”
It will be Philip Deignan’s fifth start at the Giro, having first ridden it in 2008 where he finished in 79th place overall.
He returned in the colours of Cervélo Test Team the following year, where he helped team-mate Simon Gerrans win a stage and finished 56th place overall despite having crashed four time during the race.
Deignan’s best result overall in the Giro is a 43rd place finish in 2014, when the race started in Belfast.
Roche will be lining up at the Giro for the third time in his career. He made his Grand Tour debut in the 2007 race riding for Credit Agricole where he finished in 130th place overall and his only other appearance was in 2014 when he finished in 30th place overall.
