Paris - Chris Froome will compete in this month's Tour of the Alps as he steps up his Tour de France preparations, race organisers said on Wednesday.
The four-time Grande Boucle champion joins another former winner Vincenzo Nibali in the field for the April 22-26 race across Austria and Italy.
Froome, who in 2017 achieved the Tour and Vuelta double, will not be defending his Giro title in May with his focus on a record-equalling fifth Tour de France crown.
The 33-year-old has raced just twice so far this season, finishing 91st and 94th at the Tour of Colombia and Tour of Catalonia respectively.