Lining-up at the Tour of Oman as the Team Sky co-captain along with another new addition the British squad have in Leopold König, Wout Poels hopes to shine in his first appearance in the sleak black outfit. The 27-year old Dutchman also revealed that being given a choice which three-week event to ride this season, he chose supporting Chris Froome in the Tour de France without any hesitation.

While leaner and more motivated than ever Richie Porte seems to be ready to chase his own success eventually, Froome apparently found a new best friend and loyal lieutenant in Poels. The 28-year old Dutchman accompanied his more decorated team-mate in preparations he underwent in South Africa and hopes to make a good use of such a splendid build up already in his first appearance of the 2015 season.

Poels lined-up at the Tour of Oman as the Team Sky co-captain along with another new rider in the outfit, Leopold König, while Froome leads the British outfit in the Vuelta a Andalucia. The former Etixx-Quick Step rider revealed, though, that being given a choice he decided to back his 29-year old team-mate at the Tour de France, and so they will follow the same race programme from after this week's events.

The lean Dutchman approached the Tour of Oman with particular ambitions, hoping for a good result in the general classification. The race hasn't started for the Team Sky leaders optimistically, though, as they both lost time in a hilly affair on Wednesday.

„I'm feeling good at the moment, but I have to wait and see how I'm going to do in more demanding stages. I want to ride for a general classification [in Oman] to make a good impression,” Poels told De Telegraaf.

„Apart from this race, I will follow a pretty much the same program as Froome,” the 28-year old Dutchman revealed. „I was asked if I wanted to ride the Giro, but I immediately said that I wanted to do the Tour. It was due to its Grand Depart in Utrecht, but also because of Chris. I would like to support him in this Tour and help him in winning the race. It's good for my own development, as I aim for a top ten [in the Tour de France general classification] in the future and so I won't let an opportunity to learn from him to pass me by.”