Landa led Team Sky at last year’s Giro d’Italia, and was well-placed, in the top ten overall, when illness forced him to quit at the start of the second week.

The former Astana man won two stages and finished third overall in 2015, and believes the route for the milestone Giro fits his characteristics.

“The Giro is going to be a big challenge but I feel that I am in good form and it’s a challenge I am ready for,” he said.

“As always, it is a race for the climbers and I think that will suit me. We have a strong team and I’m really looking forward to returning to the Giro with Team Sky.”

Commenting on the line-up, team principal Sir Dave Brailsford says Sky will be ready for hard racing from the get go.

“The 100^th edition of the Giro d’Italia is going to be a special race. We want to make sure we are a key player in it and that we go there and make our mark.

“We’ve placed a lot of importance on performing well at this race. We have prepared properly for it to give the riders the best chance of making an impact.

“In Grand Tour terms the first serious tests come early on and so we will arrive in Sardinia focused and ready to race from kilometre one.

“We’ve looked at the challenges this edition of the Giro presents and picked a team which we believe can fully support both of our leaders.

“The last week of this Giro will be particularly demanding and the severity of those stages will be determining factors, so making sure we have climbing support in the high mountains has been a key consideration.”

And Brailsford believes the different characteristics of the two riders will play into Sky’s hands, adding: “Both Mikel and Geraint are coming into the race in excellent form and it’s exciting that they will be leading Team Sky into the 100th Giro d’Italia.

“They are two different types of rider and we see this as creating a real opportunity for us.”

Team Sky squad for Giro d’Italia 2017

Geraint Thomas (GBR)
Mikel Landa (ESP)
Philip Deignan (IRL)
Diego Rosa (ITA)
Salvatore Puccio (ITA)
Kenny Elissonde (FRA)
Michal Golas (POL)
Sebastian Henao (COL)
Vasil Kiryienka (BLR)