Team Sky confirm Chris Froome will pursue historic Vuelta a España victory

Chris Froome will be supported by his trusty Tour de France lieutenant Geraint Thomas as he looks to claim a Grand Tour double at the Vuelta a Espana.

Team Sky have named a line-up stacked with experience, with Roche being the team’s second-in-command should accident or injury befall Froome.

Froome is attempting to become only the third man after Frenchmen Jacques Anquetil (1963) and Bernard Hinault (1978) as the only riders to win both the Tour de France and the Vuelta in the same year.

The trio were named in the nine-man squad along with Sergio Henao, Mikel Nieve, Vasil Kiryienka, Christian Knees, Ian Boswell and Salvatore Puccio.

Martin is out of a contract at the end of this year and has not signed another, with Etixx general manager Patrick Lefevre stating a deal to secure the Irishman’s services was “close” to being done.

Froome promised to take the tests during the Tour as Team Sky sought a way to prove that his performances are not chemically-enhanced, with the hope being that he can show he has a naturally low heart rate.

The race begins on Saturday with a team time trial from Puerto Banus to Marbella in Andalucia’s and finishes in Madrid three weeks on Sunday.

The strongest challenge could come from Movistar though, who bring with them to their home tour the riders who finished second and third on the podium in Paris – Nairo Quintana and Alejandro Valverde, who is also a past victor of the Vuelta. I’ve had a good rest after the Tour and now I’m ready for my next challenge.

Dave Brailsford, the Team Principal, said that a strong squad had been assembled for the race, which Froome has never won.