Astana names experienced line-up for Tour de France

Paris - Astana picked proven winners on Wednesday to boost the chances of team leader Jakob Fuglsang for the July 6-28 Tour de France.

Spain's Pello Bilbao, 29, who won two Giro stages last year, has been included in the team's Tour de France line-up for the first time for his prowess in the mountains.

Three Tour de France stage winners - Magnus Cort, Omar Fraile, Luis Leon Sanchez - have also been called on.

"With this solid and experienced line-up we are ready to compete for the best possible result," said team sports director Dmitriy Fofonov.

Fuglsang, 34, competing in his eighth Tour de France, won the Liege-Bastogne-Liege in April and claimed his second Criterium du Dauphine this month.

Astana team for the Tour de France:

Jakob Fuglsang (DEN), Pello Bilbao (ESP), Magnus Cort (DEN), Omar Fraile (ESP), Hugo Houle (CAN), Gorka Izagirre (ESP), Alexey Lutsenko (KAZ), Luis Leon Sanchez (ESP)