KEY POINTS:
New Zealand cyclist Julian Dean at last has the benefit of a quality buildup behind him as he lines up for his third Tour de France starting in London this weekend.
Dean's professional team Credit Agricole confirmed that the 32-year-old would ride as a specialist sprinter in the sport's greatest endurance race.
His main role will be to guide team leader Thor Hushovd in the sprints, with the Norwegian out to reclaim the tour's green jersey for sprinters he won in 2005.
Valencia-based Dean comes into the tour without significant injury problems, a far cry from last year and in his Tour debut in 2004.
Three years ago he had just a month's training under his belt, having recovered from breaking both elbows earlier in the season. He completed the Tour in 127th place.
Dean missed the 2005 Tour de France after breaking his right elbow in a crash in the Tour of Italy and last year finished 129th after battling back from a serious knee injury two months out.
Last month Dean finished an impressive 93rd overall in the gruelling Tour of Italy and produced some bright finishes in the latter stages.
Three-time Olympian Dean will match the record of Kiwi Stephen Swart, who also contested three Tours de France in 1987, 1994 and 1995.
New Zealand's most prominent riders in the Tour are four-time exponents Tino Tabac (1971, 1972, 1973 and 1976) and Eric Mackenzie (1982, 1983, 1985 and 1986).
- NZPA
