The Portuguese rider Jose Azevedo was fifth overall in France. Jose Luis Rubiera, voted the most valuable domestique, took 19th place and his compatriot, Benjamin Noval, a talented climber and time trialist, finished 66th overall.
The other three members of the team for the Tour of Britain are American Antonio Cruz, a US Criterium champion; compatriot Michael Creed, a national Under 23 champion on two occasions, and Jurgen Van Den Broeck, the first Belgian to win the Junior Time Trial Championships.
Tony Doyle, the event director, said:
“By declaring this kind of team US Postal have thrown down the gauntlet to the other teams."
It’s not yet confirmed, but the T-Mobile team at the Tour of Britain is likely to include Andreas Kloden, second in this year’s Tour de France.