Britain's Team Sky, led by three-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome, confirmed today that they will have a team participating in next year’s XXVI Challenge Ciclista a Mallorca, one of the season's opening cycle races in Europe.
Team Sky have yet to announce the make-up of the team for the assault on the Majorcan title but they have announced that Mikel Landa, not Chris Froome, is set to lead 2017 Giro d’Italia for Team Sky, allowing Froome to concentrate on the Tour de France again.
Landa led Sky’s 2016 Giro d’Italia team this May until stomach problems forced him to abandon midway through.
Sky have dominated the Tour de France in recent years with four titles. With the majority of resources used in July, they have been unable to do the same in Italy. Bradley Wiggins and Richie Porte both tried. Colombian Rigoberto Urán recorded Sky’s best result, a second place in 2013 behind Vincenzo Nibali. Landa appeared up for the job, given he had won two mountain stages and was placed third overall helping team-mate Fabio Aru in 2015. And Sky are keeping faith with him.
However, first things first and Team Sky will be holding their winter training camp, as usual, in Majorca during December and January.
This will be the first time the whole team has been together since the season came to an end, and it is when team principal Sir Dave Brailsford spells out his plans for the team for the coming season. It is unlikely that Froome will race in Majorca, but he will train here.