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The Team Sky squad for the 2014 Tour de France:
Chris Froome – age 29 – Great Britain
Chris Froome heads into the Tour de France as 2013 champion after becoming the second consecutive Team Sky rider to win cycling’s biggest prize following Sir Bradley Wiggins’ triumph in 2012. This season Chris has won the Tour of Oman and Romandie, as well as holding the yellow jersey for six of the eight stages at the Critérium du Dauphine earlier this month. He will be looking to combine his climbing and time-trial abilities to secure his second Tour de France title.
Richie Porte – age 29 – Australia
Regarded as one of the very best riders in the sport, Richie will be Chris Froome’s main support rider – or super domestique – when the race hits the mountains. A champion in his own right, having won prestigious races such as Paris-Nice and the Volta ao Algarve, Porte’s job will be to set a fast pace for Froome on the climbs before thrusting his leader towards the summit.
Geraint Thomas MBE – age 28 – Great Britain
Geraint was the youngest rider in the Tour the last time the race visited British shores in 2007, and this will be his fifth Tour de France appearance. The Welsh rider wore the white jersey, for best young rider, in 2010 and 2011, and was a key part of the successful 2013 team. Thomas’s all-round abilities make him a great team-mate for Chris Froome on the flat, cobbled and mountain stages.
Mikel Nieve – age 30 – Spain
Mikel joined Team Sky at the start of the 2014 season and has immediately made his mark by playing a key role in Chris Froome’s victories in Oman and Romandie. Nieve is a super-strong climbing domestique and is another of Team Sky’s main players in the mountains. He has been in fine form this season and recently claimed a high-profile final stage win at the Dauphine earlier this month.
Bernhard Eisel – age 33 – Austria
Bernie is one of the most experienced riders on the Team Sky roster and has ridden 15 Grand Tours during his 14 seasons as a professional. The most memorable of those was Team Sky’s first Tour de France victory in 2012, and this time around he will be making sure Froome is well protected and positioned during the flat and cobbled sections of the race.
Vasil Kiryienka – age 32 – Belarus
The Belarusian has gained widespread recognition for his tireless stints on the front of the peloton and is a key asset to the team on the climbs. His role will be to keep breakaways in check as well as helping to set the pace when the road ramps upwards.
David López – age 33 – Spain
López’s wealth of experience and relaxed demeanour made him an instant hit when he joined Team Sky in 2013. He has since proved himself to be a loyal climbing domestique, having played a pivotal role in last season’s Tour de France win. David has ridden in support of Chris Froome in every race he has entered this season.
Danny Pate – age 35 – USA
Danny is one of the hardest-working riders in the peloton and that commitment has been rewarded with his first Tour de France ride in Team Sky colours. Like Kiryienka, Pate will drive the pace of the peloton on the flatter stages of the race whilst also making sure Froome is correctly positioned heading into each of the key climbs.
Xabier Zandio – age 37 – Spain
One of the strongest and most reliable domestiques in cycling, Zandio has devoted a career to helping his team-mates achieve success. With 13 years as a pro already in his legs, the Spaniard is an experienced hand, especially in stage races, and is most at home setting the pace on the mid-sections of significant climbs.

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