Six of the best for Skil-Shimano

Dutch Professional Continental team Skil-Shimano has announced the first six riders selected for its Tour de France roster, with the final squad due to be announced on June 29.

Dutch riders Albert Timmer, Piet Rooijakkers and Kenny van Hummel, Frenchmen Jonathan Hivert and Cyril Lemoine plus German rider Simon Geschke are scheduled to line up for the opening time trial in Monaco on July 4.

Skil-Shimano was a surprise invitation to this year's Tour de France, although given the priority Amaury Sport Organisation places on the 'clean' reputation of teams competing in its blue riband event, the Dutch team was an understandable inclusion on the list of wildcard entries for the Tour.