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London - British yellow jersey hope Bradley Wiggins will be supported by a "strong and balanced" team for the July 2-24 Tour de France, Team Sky chief Dave Brailsford said upon announcing the nine-man squad on Thursday.
Wiggins finished fourth in the race two years ago while racing with Garmin, and while he finished well off the podium in 2010 the Olympic pursuit champion recently set out his stall with victory in the tough Criterium du Dauphine race in France.
He will be supported by versatile Welshman Geraint Thomas, who will be riding his third Tour de France, while sprinter Ben Swift will make his debut.
Talented Norwegian Edvald Boasson Hagen and Colombia's Rigoberto Uran both proved key strengths for Wiggins in the mountains at the Dauphine.
The line-up also features experienced Grand Tour riders including Spanish duo Juan Antonio Flecha, who will be making his ninth Tour de France appearance, and Xabier Zandio, who has previously ridden in the event five times.
Germany's reigning road race Champion Christian Knees will compete in his ninth Grand Tour, while Australian Simon Gerrans, a previous stage winner in all three Grand Tours, completes the line-up.
Brailsford said: "This is a strong and balanced team with a real depth of talent to cater for all the challenges, from the team time trial to its high mountain finishes.
"The squad have raced and trained together consistently well and are full of confidence after excellent results at Bayern Rundfhart and the Criterium du Dauphine.
"There is a great blend of experience and youth in our squad. As well as riders like Bradley, Flecha, Simon, Christian and Xabier who have ridden the Grand Tours on numerous occasions, the line up also includes some of the peloton's brightest young talents in Edvald, Geraint, Rigoberto and Ben."
Wiggins said: "The team is in great shape, full of confidence and riding well. It's going to be a great three weeks of racing."
Team Sky squad:
Edvald Boasson Hagen (NOR), Juan Antonio Flecha (ESP), Simon Gerrans (AUS), Christian Knees (GER), Ben Swift (GBR), Geraint Thomas (GBR), Rigoberto Uran (COL), Bradley Wiggins (GBR), Xabier Zandio (ESP)
