Team Sky reveal Vuelta team that will support Chris Froome

Team Sky have revealed the team that will support Tour de France champion Chris Froome when he begins the Vuelta on Saturday – including two riders, Geraint Thomas and Nicolas Roche, who helped him win the yellow jersey last month.

Froome has twice been runner-up in the Vuelta, to Juan Jose Cobo in 2011 and to Alberto Contador last year, but this will be the first time he has ridden the race after completing the Tour de France, let alone winning it.

He could become only the third rider to win the Tour and Vuelta in the same year, and the first since the Spanish race, which celebrates its 70thedition this year, moved from spring to late summer in 1995.

Last year, both Froome and Contador rode the Vuelta after recovering from the injuries that put them out of the Tour de France, and the Team Sky rider said earlier this month that he would give the Vuelta his “best shot” but didn’t want “to make any big promises” about winning it.

- Chris Froome hungry for more Tour de France success - but is time against him?

Joining Froome, Thomas and Roche in the line-up are the Colombian climber Sergio Henao, Spain’s Mikel Nieve, Belarus rider Vasil Kiryienka, Germany’s Christian Knees, the American Ian Boswell and Salvatore Puccio from Italy.

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.

Team Principal Sir Dave Brailsford commented: "It’s been an unforgettable summer for us after winning the Tour de France for the third time, but it’s important to move on quickly, realign our goals and focus on the new challenges ahead.

"We’ve selected a strong squad for the Vuelta that has the right blend of talent and experience to support Chris Froome through the tough three weeks ahead."

Froome said: "I have great memories from this race so I’m pleased to be back. I’ve had a good rest after the Tour and now I’m ready for my next challenge.

"It will certainly be a very competitive race given the strong field – which will be great for the fans to watch. The competition will be tough and this is bike racing so anything can happen, but we have an excellent team and we’re ready to get the race started."

Potential rivals for the overall include Astana’s Fabio Aru and Tejay van Garderen of BMC Racing and Katusha’s Joaquim Rodriguez, whose best result is his third place in 2012.

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 winner of the Vuelta.