Team Sky to name Tour de France roster on Thursday with Chris Froome at the helm

Team Sky will announce their team for the Tour de France on Thursday with Chris Froome expected to lead the team's attempt at their fifth and his fourth victory.

Welshman Geraint Thomas is expected to be Froome's co-captain as well as a potential "Plan B" for the General Classification if the three-time champion crashes out.

Thomas recently abandoned his own attempt at a Grand Tour win, when he crashed on stage nine of the Giro d'Italia this May - he withdrew to get fit and concentrate on the Tour.

This year's route is unfavourable to Froome with only three high mountain stages and reduced time trial kilometres.

However, last year Froome changed tactics and actually won the race by making the most time on a crosswinds stage, a daring attack on a descent and the final time trial stage.

Basque rider Mikel Landa, a key mountain lieutenant to Froome, crashed at the same time as Thomas in the Giro, yet finished the race with the mountains jersey and a stage win and has already demonstrated his skill helping Froome to the yellow jersey last year.

Colombian Sergio Henao and Spaniard Mikel Nieve, were also key in the 2016 race and have shown good form in training, so are likely to make the team.

Pete Kennaugh or Michal Kwiatkowski could race alongside the Spanish speaking trio.

Kennaugh, has helped Froome in 2013 and 2015, and recently won the Alpe d'Huez stage at the Critérium du Dauphine, but he maybe peaked too late in the season. He has said his chances are 50/50 of making the team.

The winner of this year's Milan-San Remo, Polish all-rounder Kwiatkowski is a versatile rider who can cope on the flat and in the mountains - he has trained with Froome all summer and will almost certainly make the team.

Ian Stannard and Luke Rowe have helped to keep Froome out of trouble on flat stages in past Tours but Stannard suffered with a virus and had to leave the Dauphine early. Despite being a key rider in Sky's four Tour de France victories he may not be fit enough to ride the Tour.

Rowe led the team through the spring cobbled classics and backed off to be ready for the July appointment. They, if all goes to plan, should make the cut.

Wout Poels has only ridden one race since February after suffering an injury so could be also be left out, despite being a key domestique in Froome's 2016 Tour victory.

German Christian Knees, who has been training with Froome near Sestriere, will be hoping to start the tour in his home country as this year's Grand Depart is in Dusseldorf. Alongside Belarusian Vasil Kiryienka, the pair could help keep Froome safe on the flat stages and help out in the early mountain stages.