Rabobank announces finalised Tour team

Rabobank announced its final nine-man roster for this year’s Tour de France, on Friday. Giro d’Italia champion Denis Menchov will lead an experienced squad when the three-week stage race starts in Monaco July 4.

"Denis is our absolute top man," said Rabobank team manager Erik Breukink when the team was announced. Robert Gesink, Laurens ten Dam, Stef Clement, Joost Posthuma, Oscar Friere, Juan Antonio Flecha, Juan Manuel Garate and Grischa Niermann have been selected to support Menchov in his bid for the malliot jaune.

Koos Moerenhout was named as Rabobank's reserve for the Grand Tour.

The Dutch squad’s only Tour debutant will be Gesink, 23. Breukink has indicated that he will be one of Menchov’s key teammates when the race visits the mountain stages.

"Robert is new, yet we expect him to play an important role in the mountains. That is his domain and he showed us in the Dauphiné that he is in form."