Michal Kwiatkowski and Sergio Henao headline Team Sky line-up for Tour of the Basque Country
Tao Geoghegan Hart the only Brit among the eight-man line-up
While the Classics may be in full swing in the northern reaches of Europe, the stage racing continues with the WorldTour Tour of the Basque Country next week, starting with stage one on Monday April 3.
>>> Tour of the Basque Country 2017 start list
Team Sky will be heading in with a two pronged attack, with a pair of riders who have known significant success over the last month or so.
Milan-San Remo winner Michal Kwiatkowski will begin his build-up to the Ardennes Classics with a ride here, and will more likely be suited to stage wins with an extremely arduous parcours of climbing which is more suited to super lightweight climbers.
Sergio Henao will carry that flag for Sky, looking to better his second place finished overall in Pais Vasco in 2015 and 2016. He'll come up against Alberto Contador (Trek-Segafredo) once again, having beat the Spaniard by two seconds to take the overall title at Paris-Nice in early March.
Alejandro Valverde (Movistar) will also provide a challenge to any title hopes for Sky, with the veteran Spaniard on flying form after winning the overall and three stages at the Volta a Catalunya.
Tao Geoghegan Hart will be the only Brit in attendance, with the 22-year-old taking on his second WorldTour stage race having debuted in cycling's top tier at the Dubai Tour in February.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
The same Team Sky line-up for the Tour of the Basque Country will also start the Spanish one-day race GP Miguel Indurain which takes place on the same day as the Tour of Flanders, Sunday April 1.
Full Team Sky squad for Tour of the Basque Country: Tao Geoghegan Hart, Michal Golas, Sebastian Henao, Sergio Henao, Vasil Kiryienka, Michal Kwiatkowski, David Lopez and Mikel Nieve
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Follow on Twitter: @richwindy
Richard is digital editor of Cycling Weekly. Joining the team in 2013, Richard became editor of the website in 2014 and coordinates site content and strategy, leading the news team in coverage of the world's biggest races and working with the tech editor to deliver comprehensive buying guides, reviews, and the latest product news.
An occasional racer, Richard spends most of his time preparing for long-distance touring rides these days, or getting out to the Surrey Hills on the weekend on his Specialized Tarmac SL6 (with an obligatory pub stop of course).
-
Trek USCX will host 4 consecutive UCI cyclocross race weekends on US soil
Trek becomes American UCI Cyclocross series title sponsor, adding a fourth race to the series in October at its headquarters in Waterloo, Wisconsin.
By Kristin Jenny Published
-
Lip service isn't good enough: here's what needs to change for cycling events to actually be inclusive
These are the key actions that make an event actually inclusive and do more than just lip service.
By Marley Blonsky Published
-
Giro d'Italia 2024 start list: Geraint Thomas to lead 'aggressive' Ineos Grenadiers
All the teams and riders for the 107th Giro d'Italia
By Adam Becket Published
-
'It was time to change': No regrets for Rod Ellingworth after leaving Ineos Grenadiers
New Tour of Britain race director says he is still on good terms with Dave Brailsford after resigning from team last year
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'I’m just here to enjoy it': Tom Pidcock on his surprise Paris-Roubaix appearance
British rider was a late addition to the Ineos Grenadiers team for the race across the pavé
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
The art of peaking with Geraint Thomas: 'It’s easy to take for granted that 9 times out of 10 I hit my goals'
The Welshman also calls for better governance in the sport to help it grow further
By Chris Marshall-Bell Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers’ 500th victory was claimed by a woman; why do they still not have a team?
The British squad is one of the richest in cycling - but Ineos still won’t stump up for a women’s team
By Adam Becket Published
-
'This is so much more than a number': Six of the best Ineos Grenadiers wins as team claims 500th race victory
Pauline Ferrand-Prévot took the 500th team win at the weekend
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock 'wouldn’t be surprised' to see attacks before the Poggio at Milan-San Remo
British rider will lead the line for Ineos Grenadiers alongside Filippo Ganna
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers delighted with Egan Bernal’s late cameo on stage one of Paris-Nice
Colombian snapped up key bonus seconds in the general classification battle on run in to Les Mureaux
By Tom Thewlis Published