Nicolas Roche included in Sky squad for Tour de France

Irish cyclist Nicolas Roche has been included in the Team Sky squad for the Tour de France.

While compatriot Philip Deignan has missed out on selection the French-born Roche will make his seventh appearance in the competition, and his first for Sky.

Roche has 13 Grand Tours starts to his name and has completed each one, although his inclusion was not certain this year.

Chris Froome was one of five Britons named in Team Sky's nine-man line-up for the Tour on Monday morning, and he says he'll be using the heartache of crashing out of the Tour de France last year as motivation for another tilt at glory.

The 30-year-old will compete along with Richie Porte, Geraint Thomas, Peter Kennaugh, Ian Stannard, Luke Rowe, Nicolas Roche, Leopold Konig and Wout Poels in the gruelling race, which gets under way in Utrecht, Holland, on July 4th.

Froome, who won the event in 2013, said: “Last year’s disappointment is this year’s motivation for Team Sky.

“From the moment I crashed out in 2014, I’ve had the burning desire to get back to this year’s Tour in the best possible shape.

“I’m ready and I’m fortunate to have a strong team around me selected to meet the many different challenges of this year’s race — from the cobbles to the climbs.

“There’s a great spirit in the group and we’re ready to give our best for every kilometre of every day over the three weeks of the Tour.

“We’re counting down the days. We can’t wait to get started and we are up for the challenge ahead.”