Cycling: Sky keep hold of highly prized Froome

On the day that Geraint Thomas's hopes of winning the Tour of Britain appeared to evaporate, one of his Sky team-mates, Chris Froome, signed a new three-year deal with the British team. Both riders are in the Great Britain team announced yesterday for the road-cycling world championship in Copenhagen next month.

Thomas lost almost two minutes to Lars Boom, the Tour's leader, yesterday and with just two stages left his hopes of victory look forlorn. Better news for Sky came with Froome's decision. The Kenyan-born cyclist has been in demand following his second place in the recent Vuelta a Espana.

Bradley Wiggins, who was third in the Vuelta, and Mark Cavendish, who won the green jersey at this year's Tour de France, are also in the British team. They are joined by Steve Cummings, Jeremy Hunt, David Millar and Ian Stannard. Millar and Wiggins will also compete in the men's time-trial.

The flat finish to the course is expected to suit Cavendish but not 2008 world champion Nicole Cooke, who is part of a seven-rider team for the women's race.