Chris Froome will be supported by trusty lieutenants Geraint Thomas, Wout Poels and Michal Kwiatkowski as he goes in search of a record-equalling fifth Tour de France title.
Froome will once again lead Team Sky at cycling's most iconic Grand Tour, the Briton having been cleared to race following the conclusion of his long-standing UCI investigation.
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After months of waiting, the UCI and World Anti-Doping Agency on Monday cleared Froome of any wrongdoing in relation to salbutamol levels above the permitted limit being detected in a sample he supplied at last year's Vuelta a Espana.
Twenty-four hours later Froome – who is looking to do a Giro d'Italia-Tour double - was named as Sky's main rider for the upcoming three-week race, where he can match the five titles won by Eddy Merckx, Bernard Hinault, Jacques Anquetil and Miguel Indurain.
"The last twelve months have been the hardest but also the most incredible of my career," said Froome.
"I've never started the Tour de France after riding the Giro d'Italia and it has meant a completely different approach to my season. But I learnt a lot from riding the Vuelta straight after the Tour de France last year which has given me confidence coming into this race.
"I want to make history with a fifth Tour de France win and fourth consecutive Grand Tour. I am under no illusion about the challenge, but I am feeling ready and I couldn't ask for a better team to support me."
Thomas, Kwiatkowski and Poels have helped Froome claim four yellow jersey's in the last five years, with the Dutchman particularly effective in the mountains.
The quartet are joined on the eight-man team by Jonathan Castroviejo and Luke Rowe, while there are Tour debuts for Egan Bernal and Gianni Moscon.
"We go into the Tour with a lot of confidence. Chris is in great shape after the Giro - mentally and physically - and the whole team want to build on the success we had in Italy," said team principal Dave Brailsford.
"Chris is already one of the greats of the sport. This is a chance for him to cement that reputation even further.
"We have chosen the team to support him that we believe is best equipped to meet the demands of this year's race. It is a team of real versatility and one that balances youth with experience."
