Skil – Shimano

The famous jerseys of Skil – Shimano return to The Tour with the aim of repeating past performances in 2006 and 2007 when they scored a number of individual stage placings as well as putting riders in the final top ten.

Like their Dutch counterparts Vacansoleil, Skil missed out on a Tour de France wildcard this summer, despite acquitting themselves well during the 2009 event, so their riders will be keen to prove doubters wrong and show that they were deserving of a place in La Grand Boucle.

Skil are likely to bring a multi-national line-up to The Tour that could feature riders from Belgium, France, Germany, Australia, the Netherlands and China. As in past editions the Dutch and Belgian contingent are likely to find British roads to their liking, particularly Stages Six and Seven in East Anglia, which if the wind gets up could play into the hands of riders used to training and racing on the tough, exposed roads of the Benelux.

Skil also boast several first-class sprinters too, in the likes of Kenny Van Hummel, Robert Wagner and Mitchell Docker, so the red, white and blue jersey should be prominent in the bunch sprints.

For more information please visit: www.skilcyclingteam.com