Double Olympic medallist Hayden Roulston has been selected by his the Cervélo Test Team to race in the Tour de France that starts on Saturday, July 4 in Monaco.
It means New Zealand will have two riders racing in the event for the first time. Sprinter Julian Dean is racing for Garmin Slipstream in his fifth Tour de France.
“To be back in the big league is definitely something I am happy about. I always said I would go back and I’m really happy I got the chance,” Roulston said.
“The Tour de France is the biggest race in the world. Every day is an opportunity to be discovered, so I will try the best I can.”
Carlos Sastre of Spain, the reigning Tour de France champion, will defend his title and lead the nine-rider Cervelo Test Team squad.
Sastra joins Lance Armstrong and Alberto Contador and Oscar Pereiro as Tour de France winners competing this year.
The Cervelo Test Team squad also includes Thor Hushovd of Norway, a former Tour de France green (sprint) jersey winner. Roulston will be a key player in the team lead outs for sprinter Hushovd and should be able to play a role in helping Sastre in the mountains.
“My role within the team is to assist Thor in the sprints; I’m basically the second last man in the lead out. Whatever else is needed whether it be to go in the break or stay with the big guys just goes with my job really.”
“Thor is the strongest sprinter ever and it’s great to be in there mixing it up at the end of a race. My job is perhaps the most important as I have to hold the high speed for up to one kilometre, basically its full gas for a kilometre.”
“Once I pull off, Brett Lancaster pulls him for about 250 metres at ridiculous power and then it’s all up to Thor. He isn’t a fast sprinter, but a strong one - any bit of wind, or slight rise and he will win.”
This year the race passes through Spain, Italy and Switzerland before returning to France for the traditional finish in Paris.
The 96th edition of the tour, which covers 3500km, includes 10 flat stages, eight mountain stages, two individual time trails as well as the first team time trial since 2005.
