Team Sky and Movistar confirm riders

Team Sky and Movistar have confirmed their line-ups for the 2015 Tour de France.

Five of Team Sky's nine-man roster are British, with 2013 general classification winner Chris Froome - forced to retire from last year's event - heading their challenge.

He will be supported by 2015 Paris-Nice winner Richie Porte, Geraint Thomas, Peter Kennaugh, Ian Stannard, Luke Rowe, Nicolas Roche, Leopold Konig and Wout Poels.

"Last year's disappointment is this year"s motivation for Team Sky," Froome said. "From the moment I crashed out in 2014 I've had the burning desire to get back to this year's Tour in the best possible shape.

"I'm ready and I'm fortunate to have a strong team around me selected to meet the many different challenges of this year's race " from the cobbles to the climbs.

"There's a great spirit in the group and we're ready to give our best for every kilometre of every day over the three weeks of the Tour.

"We're counting down the days. We can't wait to get started and we are up for the challenge ahead."

Nairo Quintana, the 2014 Giro d'Italia champion and winner of the Tour's King of the Mountains jersey in 2013, heads the Movistar push and will be aided by Alejandro Valverde.

Valverde won the Vuelta a Espana in 2009 and has four Tour stage victories to his name.

Former hour-record holder Alex Dowsett is also included in Movistar's team, as are Imanol Erviti, Jonathan Castroviejo, Gorka Izagirre, Jose Herrada, Adriano Malori and Winner Anacona.

"It's the most balanced squad and the one that brought us everything we needed in all terrains," Movistar manager Eusebio Unzue said. "Our leadership is clear: Nairo is the team's main reference on the road.

"However, and knowing how this race works and all the circumstances you can go through during a Tour de France, we can't rule out Alejandro staying by his side and also keeping his chances alive until the facts show otherwise."

The Tour starts on Saturday in the Dutch city of Utrecht.