Cycling: Henderson likely to join Tour de France

Greg Henderson looks set to become the ninth New Zealand cyclist to race the Tour de France.

The sprinter has shown great form over the past three weeks in the Giro d'Italia, one of the three grand tours along with France and Spain.

Henderson has had two seconds, a third, a fourth and a fifth as an individual and as part of the team time trial.

"I would trade them all for a win but I'm not on my knees yet, I'm not absolutely dead dog-tired."

It backs up his work in the Paris-Nice race, where he won the opening stage, and podium finishes on South Australia's Tour Downunder.

Henderson also won a stage in last year's Tour of Spain, but just missed out on a spot on Le Tour with Team Columbia. He should be guaranteed a place this time with the new British-based Team Sky.

"I don't want to jinx myself and say I'm going because anything can happen. I should have more of an idea next week because everyone has to change their schedules to prepare properly."

He says the team management's focus for the Tour de France is a British winner. "Our goal is for [Olympic pursuit track champion] Bradley Wiggins to win overall and compete with the likes of Alberto Contador and the Schleck brothers [Andy and Frank]."

Fellow Kiwi Julian Dean has also been performing strongly for his Garmin-Transitions team, which led to a second for him and a fourth for Henderson on the 156km stage 18.

BikeNZ high performance manager Mark Elliott says having Dean and Henderson in France, with Hayden Roulston likely to join them, is a first to be celebrated - New Zealand cycling. has never had three riders compete at the same time in the Tour.

Dean pulled out of the Giro with three races to go ending a remarkable run as the only rider to complete each of the three grand tours last year.

Elliott says: "I suspect that was Julian's last opportunity for a stage win so he'll be resting up having done the base work for the Tour de France.

"You've got to remember Julian has a specific role in the team as one of the sport's best lead-out riders.

"The reality is he almost always has to set his lead sprinter up to win when the heat goes on in the last kilometre."

The 97th Tour de France will cover 3600km in 23 days.