Madison Genesis have named an eight-man team which will contest the Tour de Yorkshire, from April 29 to May 1.
The selection includes the highest British finisher on general classification in 2015 – Erick Rowsell – and seven other riders who have been prominent in competition so far this year.
“It is a strong team” said team manager Dave Povall.
“It wasn’t easy to leave anyone out because everyone is racing well with regular success and all the guys are in good form.”
That good form has been displayed in recent weeks with Tom Stewart’s triumph over adversity to finish 11th in the Tour de Normandie, Matt Holmes’ Totnes-Vire victory and Gruff Lewis’ second-place at the Rutland-Melton CiCLE Classic.
Such performances have left Povall confident that the team have several opportunities to show themselves over the three days of racing alongside World Tour opposition – which includes the likes of Team Sky and Orica GreenEdge.
“We have several cards to play” Povall explained.
“We’ll hope to go and feature within the race, we’re not just making up the numbers, we want to compete and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
RACE GUIDE
The legacy event of the Tour de France Grand Depart in 2014, the inaugural Tour de Yorkshire took place in 2015 and was excellently received by fans who lined the roads to support some of the worlds greatest cyclists and the best of British talent.
In 2016 the race follows the same format of three road stages in three days, however the route is perhaps a little less selective than last year, with the chance for a sprint finish widely accepted on stage two.
Stages one and three are expected to showcase classic Yorkshire riding, with short sharp ascents, narrow technical roads and high speed open moorland susceptible to peloton-shattering crosswinds all demanding riders’ attention.
Only after a dramatic final stage, featuring several brutal climbs into the finish in Scarborough, will the winner of the 2016 Tour de Yorkshire become clear.