Nine from 10 for Caisse d'Epargne Tour team

The Caisse d'Epargne cycling team on Wednesday named 10 cyclists from which they must select nine for the Tour de France, which runs from July 4-26.

The Caisse d'Epargne cycling team on Wednesday named 10 cyclists, including 2006 champion Oscar Pereiro dseen here in January 2009, from which they must select nine for the Tour de France, which runs from July 4-26.

Six of them, the Spaniards David Arroyo, Ivan Gutierrez, Luis Pasamontes, Luis Leon Sanchez, Xabier Zandio and 2006 champion Oscar Pereiro - awarded victory after American Floyd Landis was disqualified for failing a drugs test - are assured of their places on the start line in Monaco.

The three final places are being contested by Portugal's Rui Costa, Frenchman Arnaud Coyot, Spain's Jose Joaquin Rojas and the Colombian Rigoberto Uran.

The final squad for the Tour de France will be named after the various national championships taking place on Sunday.

Spain's Alejandro Valverde is banned from racing in Italy, which boasts a stage in this year's Tour on July 21, and has not been selected.