Ryder Hesjedal to lead Garmin-Barracuda at Tour de France

Canada's Ryder Hesjedal headlines the Team Garmin-Barracuda roster for the 2012 Tour de France.

The 31-year-old Victoria native became the first Canadian to win one of cycling's three major tour races when he won the Giro d'Italia last month.

Hesjedal will be joined by Tom Danielson and Christian Vande Velde, both former top-10 finishers at cycling's premier event. The roster is rounded out by David Zabriskie, David Millar, Tyler Farrar, Robbie Hunter, Dan Martin and Johan Vansummeren.

"We have put together a well-balanced team with an emphasis on support for our leader, Ryder," team competition director Allan Peiper said Thursday in a release. "We have Christian and Tom, both excellent climbers who each have had great GC rides in the Tour and have shown their strength in recent racing. Dan Martin, making his Tour debut, rounds out the climbers of the team.

"The climbers will have the support of TT specialists David Millar and David Zabriskie along with Johan Vansummeren, who will also be able to help out sprinters Farrar and Hunter in the quest for stage wins."

The Tour de France starts in Belgium on June 30.