After a dominant Team Sky showing in the opening stage of the Tour de Yorkshire, where they put two men in the front group of five, even after leader Ben Swift crashed out, Philip Deignan, fifth, says the British squad have no one to fear in the race after teammate Lars Petter Nordhaug took the stage and the first leaders jersey.

He spoke as he warmed down after the stage about how the breaks came about, and what happened as leader Ben Swift crashed out of the race.

“It was brutal out there today and was a lot harder than it looked on paper. We knew that from a few guys who had ridden recon that it was going to be hard so we took control pretty early on. It was all going to plan before we had little shower on a steep descent and couple of the guys came down,” Deignan told Cyclingnews as he warmed-down by the seafront.

“It worked out well in the end although it’s disappointing for Ben. We knew that there was a slight rise with around five kilometres to go and told Lars to see if he could get away. Through experience you know how to attack the guys from the back so we tried to go one after the other.”

Deignan also cast his eye over the final two stages of the race, which should be very interesting to watch over the tough roads of Yorkshire.

“Saturday should be pretty straight forward with a bunch sprint but Sunday should be pretty brutal but we have a strong team here and Lars is in great form. I don’t think we need to be afraid of anybody.”

The Irishman also told Cyclingnews about the next few races he will be riding this season, and so far it looks like he wont take part in a Grand Tour in 2015.

“I go to California. It’s a nice race and I’ve done it a few times in the past. We’re going there with Sergio Henao and Peter Kennaugh so it’s an important race for the team. It should be a bit warmer than here and I like that,” he said.

“At the moment the Vuelta isn’t in my programme. I have Suisse after California and then nationals and then probably a break.”