THE Isle of Man's Mark Cavendish has been confirmed as a member of Team HTC-Columbia in the Tour de France.
The team has said it will focus on winning the Green Jersey and contending in the general classification at the event and believes it has selected riders that can support both goals.
Cav is one of nine riders who have been selected for the team for the world famous event.
Team manager Rolf Aldag said: "Selecting the team was very hard for us again this year.
"It was hard enough selecting a long list of 15, but to bring it down to only nine riders involved some very difficult decisions. In the end we have to leave at home several riders who also deserve a chance to ride the Tour.
"Our decisions were based on two goals. First, we wanted a strong team to support Mark Cavendish and winning the Green Jersey.
"To win, we need to concentrate all points with one sprinter. As a result we have not included Andre Greipel in the roster. Mark won six stages of the Tour de France last year and we have faith that he will be highly successful in the 2010 Tour."
The other selected riders are Bernhard Eisel, Bert Grabsch, Adam Hansen, Tony Martin, Maxime Monfort, Mark Renshaw, Michael Rogers and Kanstantsin Sivtsov.
Mr Aldag said: "Renshaw, Eisel, Grabsch and Hansen will be the main support for the sprint stages with of course the other riders also playing a part in the lead out train as well.
"Second, we wanted to field a team who can focus on the overall. Rogers has had the best season of his career to date and is very focused on contending in the general classification.
"Tony Martin comes off a very successful Tour de Suisse where he held the Yellow Jersey for the first part of the race and won the closing time trial, making him the first person to beat Fabian Cancellara in a time trial in three years.
"They will be supported by Maxime Monfort, who showed excellent form at Tour de Suisse, Adam Hansen, who won the Ster Elektro stage race last weekend and Kanstantsin Sivtsov who is a tireless worker on both flat and mountainous terrain."
Team owner Bob Stapleton said: "We are going into the race focused on our combined strength as a team and will exploit every chance for success - stage wins, jerseys and outstanding performances."
Cav caused controversy recently when he caused a big crash just before the finish line during stage four of the tour of Switzerland.
Some of his rivals expressed their anger at what happened by staging a protest. Cav later pulled out of the event.
Undoubtedly one of cycling's biggest and most successful stars, Cav will no doubt be one to watch during the Tour de France which begins on Saturday, July 3 and ends on Sunday, July 25.
