Bradley Wiggins, the first Briton to win the Tour de France, was named Tuesday in Sky’s team for the six stage Paris-Nice event which begins Sunday.
Sky leader Chris Froome meanwhile will take part in the Tirreno-Adriatico, which begins in Italy on Wednesday and which also features Vuelta champion Alberto Contador, Tour de France champion Vicenzo Nibali and Giro d’Italia champion Nairo Quintana.
Wiggins won the Paris-Nice in 2012 prior to his Tour triumph. The race is a key part of his farewell schedule before he leaves Sky to set up his own team.
Australia’s Richie Porte, who won the Paris-Nice in 2013 and Welsh rider Geraint Thomas, who led last year’s edition, are also part of a strong Sky line-up featuring Bernhard Eisel and Nicolas Roche.
Paris-Nice will be a warm up for the prestigious Paris-Roubaix classic, which Wiggins is keen to win as his final race with Sky on April 12.
Wiggins has won 25 of his 37 victories with Sky, while his finest hours remain the Tour de France triumph and the Olympic time-trial title won on his home streets of London in 2012.
In Italy Froome will be backed up by new partner Leopold Konig, seventh in the Tour de France last year, the Spaniard Mikel Nieve and British duo Ian Stannard and Peter Kennaugh.
Sky team for Paris-Nice:
Bernhard Eisel (AUT), Lars-Petter Nordhaug (NOR), Richie Porte (AUS), Nicolas Roche (IRL), Luke Rowe (GBR), Ben Swift (GBR), Geraint Thomas (GBR), Bradley Wiggins (GBR)
– Agence France-Presse
