T-Mobile Tour line-up

Mark Cavendish will race in the 2007 Tour de France

The final selection for the team that will face the Tour for T-Mobile has been decided. We've already reported that Brit Mark Cavendish will be riding, and he'll be joined by Marcus Burghardt, Bernhard Eisel, Linus Gerdemann, Giuseppe Guerini, Kim Kirchen, Axel Merckx and Patrik Sinkewitz. These eight riders will all ride for Michael Rogers, the designated team leader.

Commenting on the overall shape of the team, general manager Bob Stapleton says: “We believe we are sending a very balanced team. We have guys who are strong in the mountains and overall GC riders circled around Rogers. That's Sinkewitz, Gerdeman and Merckx. We have breakaway specialists and we have sprinters.”

After taking tenth place overall from a supporting role at last year's Tour, Rogers is ready to step up to the role of team captain. "The Tour is the hardest race of all in my books. Every stage is raced like a one-day world cup race,” says the 27 year-old Rogers. „ I hope it goes well. I have trained my hardest and prepared the best I can. I hope to finish in the top 5.”