Team Sky are about to enter a packed period of racing with no less than 25 riders in action over 11 days of competition.
The racing kicks off on Saturday with the one-day Strade Bianche, and Ian Stannard and Elia Viviani will be among the riders looking to continue their impressive form on Italy’s gravel roads. Salvatore Puccio will also be aiming to ride hard on home turf, and the squad in Siena is rounded off by Andy Fenn, Peter Kennaugh, Christian Knees and Xabier Zandio.
Over in Malaysia, Sebastian Henao will head up the Team Sky charge at the Tour de Langkawi (8 – 15 March). This race is limited to six riders per team and Ian Boswell, Phil Deignan, Nathan Earle and Danny Pate will provide ample support on the hilly parcours while Chris Sutton looks to mix it up in the sprints.
Sunday also sees the start of Paris-Nice (8 – 15 March) with Richie Porte aiming to claim back the title he won in 2013. Geraint Thomas will also hoping to produce a strong general classification performance on the back of his victory at the Volta ao Algrave and the Welshman has unfinished business in France after leading the race for two days last year before a crash scuppered his chances.
Bradley Wiggins returns to Paris-Nice for the first time since he won it back in 2012, and he will don the iconic rainbow jersey in the prologue and time trial that book-end the race. Bernhard Eisel, Lars-Petter Nordhaug, Nicolas Roche, Luke Rowe and Ben Swift meanwhile, complete another formidable team.
Finally, Chris Froome will be vying to extend his winning run when he lines up at Tirreno-Adriatico between 11 – 17 March. Froome should resume his rivalry with Alberto Contador here, and goes into the race with a mental advantage after beating the defending champion at last week’s Ruta del Sol.
Viviani and Puccio will again be in action on the Italian roads, along with Peter Kennaugh, Leopold König, Mikel Nieve, Wout Poels and the impressive Ian Stannard.
Strade Bianche:
Andy Fenn, Peter Kennaugh, Christian Knees, Salvatore Puccio, Ian Stannard, Elia Viviani, Xabier Zandio (Sports Director Dario Cioni).
Tour de Langkawi:
Ian Boswell, Philip Deignan, Nathan Earle, Sebastien Henao, Danny Pate, Chris Sutton (Sports Director Gabriel Rasch).
Paris-Nice:
Bernhard Eisel, Lars-Petter Nordhaug, Richie Porte, Nicolas Roche, Luke Rowe, Ben Swift, Geraint Thomas, Sir Bradley Wiggins (Sports Director Nicolas Portal).
Tirreno- Adriatico:
Chris Froome, Peter Kennaugh, Leopol K önig, Mikel Nieve, Wout Poels, Salvatore Puccio, Ian Stannard, Elia Viviani (Sports Director Dario Cioni).
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