Nicolas Roche and Philip Deignan in Sky squad for Giro

Ireland’s Nicolas Roche and Philip Deignan have been named in Team Sky’s nine-man roster for the Giro d’Italia, which gets under way this Friday in the Netherlands.

Both rode the race two years ago when it started in Belfast and management believe the pair can be key men in their bid to win the pink jersey for the first time.

Roche finished 30th overall in 2014 but played a crucial role in helping then Tinkoff-Saxo teammate Rafel Majka take sixth.